STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a cohort enrolled in a prospective, randomized, longitudinal clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: The single-step test (SST) was evaluated to assess its intertester reliability, validity as a test of activity limitation, and responsiveness to change for patients after unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The SST was also examined to determine whether it could differentiate between the surgical and nonsurgical lower limbs of patients after unilateral TKA and between the surgical limbs of patients after TKA and the limbs of healthy controls. BACKGROUND: Tests of functional ability for patients recovering from TKA cannot differentiate the contribution of each limb to performance outcome. A test of unilateral limb ability would provide a metric for assessing the surgical lower extremity, without the confounder of the status of the contralateral lower extremity. METHODS: Intertester reliability was assessed between clinicians and between a clinician and a switch mat. Patients who underwent unilateral TKA were tested at initial outpatient physical therapy evaluation, at 3 months after TKA, and at 1 year after TKA. RESULTS: The assessment of function with the SST was determined to be reliable between testers when using a stopwatch. SST times were significantly correlated with other measures of lower extremity functional performance, providing evidence of its validity in patients after TKA. The SST was responsive to treatment in patients after TKA, with improvements in time for test completion. Performance on the SST also differed between limbs of patients after TKA and when comparing the limbs of healthy controls to those of patients after TKA. CONCLUSION: The SST is a reliable measure between testers and a valid and responsive test of activity limitations when assessing unilateral lower extremity impairments in patients after TKA.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(2):66-73. Epub 16 November 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4372

KEY WORDS: function, joint replacement, knee, osteoarthritis

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation that includes progressive quadriceps strengthening after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) leads to superior outcomes. Though patients with TKA show marked functional improvement after outpatient physical therapy, they continue to adopt movement asymmetries characterized by reduced knee excursion on the operated limb and excessive loading on the contralateral limb. The purpose of this case report was to describe the functional and biomechanical improvements in a patient who, after TKA, participated in a novel physical therapy protocol that included retraining of symmetrical movement patterns. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 57-year-old female with unilateral knee osteoarthritis was evaluated prior to TKA and at 3 and 10 weeks after surgery. Postoperative rehabilitation included progressive quadriceps strengthening and movement retraining that consisted of visual, verbal, and tactile feedback to promote symmetrical weight bearing during strengthening exercises and functional activities. Outcomes were compared to a historical cohort of patients with TKA. OUTCOMES: Prior to TKA, the patient scored below average on all functional measures and walked with knee biomechanics that were abnormal and asymmetrical. After symmetry retraining, her knee motion and moments were restored to normal levels. The patient also walked with greater magnitude and more symmetrical knee excursion compared to a cohort of similar patients. DISCUSSION: This case report describes the use of a novel rehabilitation protocol intended to improve walking biomechanics and functional outcomes after TKA. Restoration of symmetrical movement patterns could improve long-term outcomes of TKA. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of similar rehabilitation strategies in a wide range of patients after TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 4.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(2):135-144. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3773

KEY WORDS: motion analysis, osteoarthritis, physical therapy, rehabilitation, total knee replacement