Study Summary

Thirty-four patients with unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were randomized to receive either a standard physiotherapy program plus pain neuroscience education or a standard physiotherapy program alone. The primary outcomes of interest were pain severity and disability. Secondary outcomes of interest included pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia, and quality of life. Outcomes were assessed pre-treatment and after a 6 week intervention period beginning 4–6 weeks post-operatively. Overall, the results of the study revealed statistically significant improvements in kinesiophobia and the mental component of quality of life favouring the experimental group, while no significant between-group differences were observed for pain or physical function outcomes. These findings suggest that pain neuroscience education may enhance psychological recovery when combined with standard rehabilitation following TKA.