Intensive supervision of rehabilitation programme improves balance and functionality in the short term after bilateral total knee arthroplasty

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

67 patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and 28 healthy controls were included in this randomized controlled trial. The patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either an intensively supervised rehabilitation program or a less intensively monitored rehabilitation program for 1 month following surgery. The purpose of the study was to compare the short-term balance and functionality results between the rehabilitation programs, as well as to the healthy controls. The results displayed significant benefits in terms of WOMAC, pain, function and stiffness, static and dynamic balance, and functionality in the intensive supervised rehabilitation group compared to the less intensively supervised rehabilitation group at up to 2 months. The intensive rehabilitation group achieved results representative of the healthy controls at 2 months in balance and functionality outcomes.