Jenkins C, Barker KL, Pandit H, Dodd CA, Murray DW
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single physical therapy intervention would improve patient-reported kneeling ability following partial knee replacement (PKR). Six weeks after PKR, 60 participants randomly received either kneeling advice and education or routine care where no specific kneeling advice was given. A significant improvement in patient-reported kneeling ability was found at 1 year postoperatively in those participants who received the kneeling intervention. Group allocation was the only factor determining an improvement in patient-reported kneeling ability at 1 year postoperatively.
The single factor that predicted patient-reported kneeling ability at 1 year postoperatively was the physical therapy kneeling intervention given at 6 weeks after PKR. The results of this study suggest that advice and instruction in kneeling should form part of a postoperative rehabilitation program after PKR.
Physical Therapy, 2008 Jul 17, online article ahead of print