ALMERIA, Spain, March 7 (UPI) -- Starting physical therapy 24 hours after knee surgery can reduce pain, improve range of joint motion and improve muscle strength, researchers in Spain found.
Researchers from Almeria, Malaga and Granada in Spain compared patients who began treatment within 24 hours of surgery with those who began 48 or 72 hours after their operation in a random, controlled clinical trial. Each group comprised more than 150 patients ages 50-75.
The post-operative day began with a series of leg exercises, breathing exercises and tips on posture, while on the second day walking short distances with walking aids was added.
"Orthopedics, especially knee replacement surgery, is one area that may lend itself to accelerated discharge," Adelaida Castro Sanchez of the University of Almeria said in a statement. "We therefore postulated that early rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty could accelerate the capacity of patients for daily life activities, and reduce their hospital stay."
The study is published in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation.
