Comparison of Individual Physiotherapy and Individual and Group Combination Physiotherapy after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of individual physical therapy (individual therapy) with individual and group combination physical therapy (combination therapy) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). [Participants and Methods] This study included 67 patients treated individually (40 minutes, 2 times/day) from April 2015 to March 2018 and 52 patients who received combination therapy (15 minutes of individual therapy + 60 minutes of group therapy, 2 times/day) from April 2018 to March 2020. The study design was a retrospective cohort study. [Results] The number of days to acquire mobility with a single-tip cane and the number of inpatient days were significantly shorter in the combination therapy group than in the individual group. Knee flexion range of motion was significantly greater in the combination therapy group than in the individual therapy group at 3 and 4 weeks after surgery. The knee extensor muscle strength-to-weight ratio was significantly higher in the combination therapy group than in the individual therapy group. [Conclusion] Combination therapy after TKA better elicited improvements in knee joint range of motion and knee extension muscle strength than individual therapy, and also reduced the number of days to acquire cane-assisted walking and hospital stay suggesting it had a positive effect.