OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare force production of the knee extensors between limbs after bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). DESIGN: Two repeated-measures designs (2 factors: limb, time) assessing for differences in strength between limbs over 3 times at 2 different testing speeds. SETTING: Private and institutional practice. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen volunteers (6 men, 8 women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 74.57 +/- 5.5 y; height, 169.91 +/- 9.43 cm; weight, 76.42 +/- 9.85 kg) with bilateral TKA. Open-chain knee extensor strength was measured in both legs before surgery and 30 and 60 days after TKA at 60 degrees /s and 180 degrees /s. INTERVENTION: Rehabilitation 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Treatment consisted of gait, transfer training, stationary cycle work, and a progressive resistance-training program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Peak torque measured isokinetically. RESULTS: Limb by time interaction was not significant for either 60 degrees /s (F(2,26) =.75, P =.351) or 180 degrees /s (F(2,26) =.78, P =.393). A significant main effect of time was found at 60 degrees /s (F(2,26) = 14.22, P =.0001) and 180 degrees /s (F(2,26) = 10.47, P =.003). CONCLUSIONS: During the first month after TKA, bilateral knee extensor force-production decreased significantly compared with preoperative force production. Copyright 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare force production of the knee extensors between limbs after bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). DESIGN: Two repeated-measures designs (2 factors: limb, time) assessing for differences in strength between limbs over 3 times at 2 different testing speeds. SETTING: Private and institutional practice. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen volunteers (6 men, 8 women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 74.57 +/- 5.5 y; height, 169.91 +/- 9.43 cm; weight, 76.42 +/- 9.85 kg) with bilateral TKA. Open-chain knee extensor strength was measured in both legs before surgery and 30 and 60 days after TKA at 60 degrees /s and 180 degrees /s. INTERVENTION: Rehabilitation 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Treatment consisted of gait, transfer training, stationary cycle work, and a progressive resistance-training program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Peak torque measured isokinetically. RESULTS: Limb by time interaction was not significant for either 60 degrees /s (F(2,26) =.75, P =.351) or 180 degrees /s (F(2,26) =.78, P =.393). A significant main effect of time was found at 60 degrees /s (F(2,26) = 14.22, P =.0001) and 180 degrees /s (F(2,26) = 10.47, P =.003). CONCLUSIONS: During the first month after TKA, bilateral knee extensor force-production decreased significantly compared with preoperative force production. Copyright 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation