Riassunto dello studio

Forty patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent TKA were randomized to receive either standard cryotherapy (SC; n=20) or compressive cryotherapy (CC; n=20). The primary outcome of interest was knee joint’s passive and active range of motion (ROM). Secondary outcomes included knee circumference, joint effusion, pain at rest and during activity on a Verbal Numeric Rating Scale (VNRS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Index (KOOS) questionnaire scores. Outcomes were assessed on days 1, 8, 15, and 21 of rehabilitation. Overall, the results of the study revealed that the CC group had significantly faster and greater improvements in joint effusion, pain during activity, 6MWT, and KOOS scores compared to the SC group. The findings suggest that compressive cryotherapy may enhance the rehabilitation process following TKA more effectively than standard cryotherapy.