Improving treatment in patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty: the role of preoperative low-load blood flow restricted resistance training(PhD Academy Award)

Abstract

In this PhD project, we prospectively included 86 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who were scheduled for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The project was divided into two phases: Phase 1, compared the relationship between lower limb sit-to-stand power (STS Power) and maximal isometric knee extensor strength (knee extensor maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC)), respectively, with objective measures of physical function and patient-reported outcomes. Phase 2, investigated the effectiveness of preoperative low-load blood flow restricted resistance training (BFR-RT) compared with usual preoperative medical care on postoperative measures of physical function, lower limb strength and patient-reported outcomes obtained 3 and 12 months after TKA. The number of TKA procedures due to knee OA is rising globally, with ~20% of the patients perceiving insufficient postoperative outcomes. Moreover, patients undergoing TKA demonstrate a lower level of physical function 1 year postoperatively compared with healthy peers.1 Interestingly, performing preoperative heavy-load resistance strength training (HL-RT) to improve preoperative lower limb strength in patients with knee and hip OA scheduled for joint replacement surgery has demonstrated to enhance postoperative physical function.2 However, a previous study3 reported that about 25% …