Effectiveness of Interactive Remote Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Study Summary

23 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 2607 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing interactive remote rehabilitation (IRR) with conventional rehabilitation. Pooled outcomes included pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), range of motion (ROM), quadriceps muscle strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG), and EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) scores. IRR demonstrated no significant advantages in pain, patient-reported function, mobility, or quality of life across most follow-up periods. Small improvements in short-term active knee extension and quadriceps muscle strength favoured IRR, although the strength benefit was not maintained in sensitivity analyses. Overall, IRR did not demonstrate consistent superiority over conventional rehabilitation but remained a potentially useful alternative for patients with limited access to in-person rehabilitation.