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. 2024 Apr 6;16(4):e57738.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.57738. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Safety and Efficacy of Early Rehabilitation With Assistance From a Single-Joint Hybrid Assistive Limb in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Pilot Study

Takaya Watabe  1 , Muramatsu Ryota  1 , Takuya Sengoku  1 , Yushin Mizuno  1 , Goro Sakurai  1 , Shinya Yoshida  1 , Kentaro Igarashi  2
Affiliations

Safety and Efficacy of Early Rehabilitation With Assistance From a Single-Joint Hybrid Assistive Limb in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Pilot Study

Takaya Watabe et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of knee exercise within four hours after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a single-joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL-SJ). Materials and methods This pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial included participants who underwent TKA for osteoarthritis and were randomly allocated to the early rehabilitation (n = 14) or control rehabilitation (n = 16) group. Knee rehabilitation exercises using the HAL-SJ began within four hours postoperatively in the early group and seven days after surgery in the control group. Knee circumference, range of motion (ROM), pain, muscle strength, and extension lag were assessed before and one and two weeks after surgery. Results Circumferences at 1 and 10 cm from the upper edge of the patella did not differ between the groups before surgery or one week postoperatively. The extension lag and knee flexion ROM after one week were significantly better in the early intervention group than in the control group. However, the quadriceps and hamstring isometric knee strength and pain scores did not differ between the groups at one and two weeks postoperatively. HAL-SJ-related complications were not reported. Conclusion Rehabilitation knee exercises using the HAL-SJ within four hours after TKA improved extension lag and knee flexion ROM without exacerbating knee swelling and pain.

Keywords: knee osteoarthritis; knee range of motion (rom); musculoskeletal rehabilitation; single-joint hybrid assistive limb; total knee arthroplasty technique.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Patient selection flow diagram.
RA, Rheumatoid arthritis; TKA, Total knee arthroplasty
Figure 2
Figure 2. Single-joint hybrid assistive limb training within four hours after surgery.
The patient lies in their bed and performs extension and flexion exercises using the affected knee joint.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Patient during exercise with single-joint hybrid assistive limb attached to the operated knee from one week after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
Patients in the early assistance and control groups sit in bed and perform extension and flexion exercises with the affected knee joint using the single-joint hybrid assistive limb.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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