Riassunto dello studio

Fourteen randomized controlled trials containing 1224 patients were included in this meta-analysis comparing prehabilitation exercises prior to surgery (n=612) to control (n=612). The pooled outcomes of interest included length of stay, quadriceps strength, sit-to-stand score, 6-minute walk test, knee range of motion (i.e., total, extension, flexion), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) function, WOMAC pain, and WOMAC stiffness scores. Follow-up time in the included studies ranged from 1 to 3 months. Results revealed that pooled length of stay was statistically significantly shorter in the prehabilitation group compared to the control group (p<0.00001), whilst pooled sit-to-stand test results (p<0.00001) and knee range of motion (total; p=0.04) were statistically significantly in favour of the control group. No statistical significant differences were observed between the two groups in the pooled results for quadriceps strength (p=0.38), 6-minute walk test (p=0.09), knee range of motion in extension and flexion (p=0.76; p=0.16), WOMAC function (p=0.44), WOMAC pain (p=0.27), and WOMAC stiffness scores (p=0.19).