Primary care rehabilitation after Knee Replacement - a cross sectional study.
Elin Östlind, Marcus Ljung, Caroline Ståhl and 2 others
PMID 40612497WHAT IT FOUND
Swedish physiotherapists report knee range of motion and managing swelling are the hardest post-surgery challenges.
They prioritize early active movement and strength. Many patients are unprepared for the long recovery and severe initial pain, highlighting the need for pre-operative education.
Key findings
01Physiotherapists identified regaining knee range of motion (61 comments) and managing pain/swelling (42 comments) as the most frequent patient challenges.
02Home exercises combined with recurring visits is the primary treatment model, with active range of motion, strength training, and stationary cycling being the core modalities.
03Patients are often unprepared for the duration of recovery and the severity of early pain, which can negatively impact adherence and motivation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The response rate is unknown because the survey was public and anonymous, and only 202 responses were received from a population of several thousand physiotherapists, raising the risk of self-selection bias. The study reports physiotherapists' perceptions of patient challenges, not direct patient-reported outcomes. Definitions of treatment modalities like strength training were not specified in the survey, which may lead to misclassification. The survey did not cover all relevant aspects of rehabilitation, such as patient education and self-management strategies in detail.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The research received no specific grant from any funding agency.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific interventions improve patient outcomes. This is a survey of physiotherapist perceptions and practices, not a clinical trial testing efficacy. The challenges identified are what therapists believe patients face, which may not fully match the patients' own experiences.