Recovery of mobility after knee arthroplasty

Lamb, Sarah E; Frost, Helen

Abstract

Mobility was measured in 79 people 6 months after knee arthroplasty using timed tests of stair climbing and walking speed. Recovery rates were calculated in comparison with a preoperative assessment. Changes in leg extensor power, knee flexion range, and pain were tracked simultaneously. Stair climbing speed improved on average by 53% during the first 6 months, and walking speed by 45%. In multivariate models, 2 preoperative factors emerged as being influential on recovery of mobility: leg extensor power and body mass index. A marked loss of flexion in the postoperative period was not a significant determinant of mobility speed. At 6 months, body mass index was the most significant determinant of stair speed, and leg extensor power was the most significant determinant of walking speed.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 23, 2002
• Online Publication Date: Aug 7, 2003
• Publication Date: 2003-08
• Deposit Date: Oct 25, 2017
• Journal: The Journal of Arthroplasty
• Print ISSN: 0883-5403
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-8406
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 575-582
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0883-5403%2803%2900110-4
• Keywords: Orthopedics, mobility, muscle power.
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1001670