Riassunto dello studio

Three hundred sixty-three patients with recent unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized to receive outpatient rehabilitation with a recumbent bike (control, n=92), a body weight–adjustable treadmill (n=91), a PENS device (n=90), or a combination of both modalities (n=90). The primary outcomes were the AM-PAC basic mobility score and the 6-minute walk test. Secondary outcomes included use of assistive devices, pain medication, and weight-bearing status. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, monthly, and on discharge, approximately 60 days after therapy initiation. Overall, the results of the study revealed no statistically significant differences in functional mobility or walking distance across all groups at discharge (AM-PAC scores: P = .99; walk distance: P = .60). These findings suggest that more advanced rehabilitation technologies do not confer added functional benefit over standard care in outpatient TKA recovery.