Comparison of effects of supervised physiotherapy and a standardized home program on functional status in patients with total knee arthroplasty: a prospective study.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine the functional differences between total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who were treated with supervised physiotherapy or a standardized home program and perform a cost analysis.
[Subjects and Methods] Patients who received total knee arthroplasty between January 2009 and June 2011 were enrolled in this study; those with mean ages of 64.25±3.86 (60-68) years (n=18) and 68.08±6.25 (61-79) years (n=16) were placed in the supervised physiotherapy and standardized home program groups, respectively. All patients were evaluated by the same researcher before and after surgery, and the therapy programs were applied by another physiotherapist. All patients were evaluated for joint range of motion (ROM), pain, functional status (WOMAC), overall quality of life (SF-36), and depressive symptoms (BECK Depression Scale).
[Results] A significant clinical improvement was observed in postoperative assessments. A statistically significant difference could not be found between ROM and functional levels of the patients in both groups.
[Conclusion] No difference was found between the patients performing supervised or standardized home program with respect to the effects on functional status. A home exercise program can be used in the rehabilitation of patients with TKA, and implementation of home exercise programs can also reduce health-care spending.

INTRODUCTION

Gonarthrosis is one of the most common arthrotic involvements developing due to a degenerative process in the skeletal system1). It is not possible to stop the degenerative process despite the presence of many treatment alternatives. The total knee arthroplasty is the gold standard2) for reducing pain, healing deformities and restoring stability in patients who progress to the terminal stage2,3,4).

Arthroplasty is a commonly accepted treatment method in degenerative diseases of the knee and the hip with excellent outcomes shown in the last 15–20 years5, 6). Components of motion of knee joint are hurt from in arthroplasty applications as in every operation affecting skeletal system. Physiotherapy techniques are the most important tools that patients and doctors have for rapidly regaining functional status. Rehabilitation programs including supervised physical therapy7) or home exercises are recommended for restoring functional status in patients after knee arthroplasty8, 9). Supervised physical therapy two or three times a week is a common method of achieving this goal7).

Recently, interest has been increasing regarding investigation and evaluation of the causes of increasing health costs10). Effort has been focused on studies about cost-effectiveness analysis and controlling costs11). Increased cost of health care leads to critical investigations concerning the effectiveness of treatment and needs in physiotherapy and rehabilitation methods. Therefore, some studies have focused on home exercises8, 9).

These types of analyses are required for health costs in our country. The main purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the short- and long-term outcomes of supervised physiotherapy and a standardized home program following discharge of patients who underwent TKA and to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of postoperative rehabilitation.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration (2008). It was conducted after ethics committee approval had been obtained from the Pamukkale University Medical Faculty (Ref no.08, date: 28.05.2013).

Patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty between January 2009 and June 2011 were randomly divided to two groups, a supervised physiotherapy (SP) group and standardized home program (HP) group, using a random number table.

Surgical opening, the arthroplasty technique (extramedullary guide, ligament-preserving type of arthroplasty, etc.), incision closure and wound care were performed in a standard manner in all patients.

The same treatment program was applied to all patients during their hospitalizations. All patients were mobilized after their drainage tubes had been removed postoperatively, and a continuous passive motion (CPM) device was applied beginning with 45 degrees of knee flexion and continuing with 60 degrees on day 2, 90 degrees on day 3 and 110 degrees on days 4 and 5. Strengthening exercises were applied for the thigh abductor, adductor, extensor and quadriceps femoris muscles with active aid, and active joint motions twice daily under supervision of the physiotherapist until discharge from the hospital. Patients were mobilized with a walker so that they could bear as much weight as was tolerable on the arthroplasty side 24 hours after the operation. They also received training for moving up and down stairs before hospital discharge.

After discharge, patients in the home program were controlled for exercises once weekly for 4 weeks and rearranged by the physiotherapist when needed. Patients (home program group) performed home exercise for an hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks. Home exercises included arrangement of knee joint motion limit, restoration of knee and hip muscle power. Patients in supervised physiotherapy participated in a total of 20 sessions of a physiotherapy and rehabilitation program 5 days a week for 4 weeks. This program included knee joint range of motion (ROM) exercises and strengthening exercises for the knee and hip following 20 min of application of moist heat, and 20 min of conventional transcutaneal electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) application.

All participants were evaluated by a different physiotherapist, that is, not the one applying the therapy program.

Descriptive data of the participants were collected using a descriptive data questionnaire. A 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale consisting of a straight vertical line was used to grade pain. The patients were instructed that “0” represented “no pain” and that “10” represented “the most severe pain”. The Patients were then asked to mark their level of pain on the line, and the distance to the point they marked was measured using a ruler and recorded12).

Range of Motion (ROM) was evaluated using a universal goniometer, and measurements were evaluated using the ROM degrees defined by Kendall13).

The Western Ontorio and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used for assessment of functional status. The reliability and validity of the Turkish index composed of 24 questions were tested by Tüzün et al. in 200514). The index was scored on Likert scale ranging between 0 and 4, with “0” indicating “no” and “4” indicating “very severe”. The results were evaluated out of 100 points, with “100” meaning “healthy” and “0” meaning “very poor”15).

The Beck Depression Inventory Scale was used for assessment of depression. This scale targets identification of the severity of depression rather diagnosis of depression. The reliability and validity of the Turkish adaptation of the scale were tested by Hisli et al., and the cutoff value was determined to be 1716). Patients were asked to answer the questions on their own.

The Short Form 36 (SF-36), which was developed by the Rand Corporation, was used for assessment of overall quality of life17). A study of the reliability and validity of the Turkish scale has been performed. The scale is composed of 36 items measuring 8 dimensions. The subscales are used to evaluated health by transforming them to scales ranging between 0–100, with “0” indicating “poor health” and “100” indicating a “good health status”. These subscales are reported to be usable for assessment of quality of life in patients who have physical diseases18). Patient were asked to complete the scale on their own.

The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistical data are presented as means ± standard deviation (x ± SD) or percentages (%). A p level of ≤0.05 was accepted as statistically significant and interpreted. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine whether data met parametric test conditions. The superiority of the demographic data obtained before the study was evaluated with the independent samples t-test in independent groups. The paired samples t-test was applied in dependent groups to determine the effectiveness of the methods used in the study. The independent samples t-test was used to determine the superiority of applications in independent groups19).

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 64.25±3.86 years in the SP group and 68.08±6.25 years in the HP group. Other descriptive data of the patients are given in Table 1.

Table 1.

Descriptive data of the patients

Variables	Supervised physiotherapy group		Standardized home program group (n=16)
	Min–Max	X±SD	Min–Max	X±SD
Age (years)	60–68	64.25±3.86	61–79	68.08±6.25
Height (cm)	154–158	155.75±1.70	155–168	161.17±3.35
Weight (kg)	66–104	85.75±17.01	50–103	74.83±13.81
BMI (kg/m2)	26.44–43.85	35.44±7.60	19.53–40.62	28.81±5.37
Educational status (yr)	5–5	5.00±0.00	0–12	3.91±3.50
	n	%	n	%
Gender*
Female	16	88.9	15	93.8
Male	2	11.1	1	6.2
Job*
Housewife	16	88.9	15	93.8
Self-employed	1	5.6	1	6.2
Retired teacher	1	5.6	-	-

*Statistically significant (p <0.05)

Clinical improvements were observed in postoperative assessments in both groups. Data recorded in different control periods are given in Table 2 for the SP group and in Table 3 for the HP group.

Table 2.

Comparison of outcomes before and after the operation in supervised physiotherapy group

Variables	Supervised physiotherapy group (n=18)					Results causing differences
	Before the operation	3 mo	6 mo	1 year	2 years
	X±Ss	X±Ss	X±Ss	X±Ss	X±Ss
Pain (VAS)
Rest	5.30±2.95	0.33±0.59	0.00±0.00	0.44±0.51	1.11±0.47	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-4,3-4,3-5,4-5
Activity	9.25±0.94	1.83±1.50	1.77±2.39	3.11±1.96	0.83±0.78	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,4-5
ROM (°)
Flexion	72.38±28.95	85.27±7.37	108.83±15.26	102.50±9.88	112.78±3.07	1-3,1-4,1-5,2-3,2-5,4-5
Extension	−16.33±9.71	−2.72±2.88	−3.33±7.66	−2.77±4.60	0.38±1.64	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-5
Functional status (WOMAC)	67.38±13.15	27.27±15.58	15.38±7.22	17.72±17.51	6.22±6.89	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-5,3-5,4-5
Beck depression scale	16.44±9.85	7.50±2.50	9.22±1.43	9.44±6.83	6.16±3.27	1-2,1-5,3-5
Overall quality of life scale (SF-36)
Overall health status	45.61±22.30	77.83±6.11	55.83±26.80	32.50±23.5	52.77±22.30	1-2,2-3,2-4,2-5
Physical status	15.72±14.38	42.77±15.07	63.05±16.63	55.55±23.19	74.72±14.59	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-3,2-5
Emotional status	56.22±23.82	60.18±15.05	50.20±18.31	51.22±16.24	74.22±7.90	2-5,3-5,4-5
Social status	51.22±28.83	47.16±10.89	68.61±16.01	54.83±23.88	82.50±8.17	1-5,2-3,2-5,4-5
Physical role limitation	1.38±5.89	11.10±32.33	0.00±0.00	44.44±51.13	77.78±37.26	1-4,1-5,2-5,3-4,3-5
Emotional role limitation	33.44±45.70	58.77±29.14	27.56±36.35	77.78±42.77	94.43±23.57	1-5,2-5,3-4,3-5
Pain	16.72±16.68	53.16±6.41	59.01±12.68	65.72±33.63	63.47±15.07	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5
Energy level	44.55±27.67	53.33±5.68	52.22±3.91	40.55±23.63	71.66±10.98	1-5,2-5,3-5,4-5

*Variance analysis in repeated measurements. 1=before the operation. 2=3 months after the operation. 3=6 months after the operation. 4=1 year after the operation. 5=1 year after the operation

Table 3.

Comparison of developments before and after the operation in home exercise program

Variables	Standardized home program group (n=16)					Measurements causingdifferences
	Before the operation	3 mo	6 mo	1 year	2 years
	X±SD	X±SD	X±SD	X±SD	X±SD
Pain (VAS)
Rest	5.15±3.84	0.00±0.00	0.12±0.34	0.37±0.80	0.00±0.00	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5
Activity	7.96±3.09	1.68±1.53	0.56±0.75	2.50±1.77	1.00±0.00	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,3-4,4-5
ROM (°)
Flexion	92.68±18.00	90.12±10.65	106.91±12.74	103.12±20.64	113.75±9.39	1-5,2-3,2-5
Extension	−13.25±15.77	−1.56±2.39	−0.62±1.70	−1.87±4.03	0.00±0.00	1-3,1-5
Functional status (WOMAC)	54.87±14.93	25.00±14.05	15.62±11.34	11.25±9.39	6.62±6.06	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-3,2-4,2-5,3-4,3-5
Beck depression scale	11.12±5.87	7.18±5.29	5.50±3.14	5.75±5.54	4.50±5.66	1-3,1-5
Overall quality of life scale (SF-36)
Overall health status	59.68±19.36	78.18±6.15	73.43±15.24	64.37±17.40	64.06±12.80	1-2,2-4,2-5
Physical status	28.75±14.77	49.37±27.50	74.37±23.37	71.25±25.26	85.93±2.80	1-3,1-4,1-5,2-5
Emotional status	60.25±14.71	87.01±17.00	81.25±10.90	63.02±19.18	74.75±6.14	1-2,1-3,1-5,2-4,3-4
Social status	61.37±29.54	48.12±18.50	75.56±25.72	81.81±20.28	88.59±1.28	1-5,2-4,2-5
Physical role limitation	0.00±0.00	62.50±50.00	71.87±40.69	87.50±34.15	57.81±38.42	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5
Emotional role limitation	12.43±29.40	62.49±51.00	81.12±29.90	87.51±34.15	62.50±34.15	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5
Pain	23.12±18.46	43.87±1.50	73.40±24.40	52.06±17.56	54.21±3.84	1-2,1-3,1-4,1-5,2-3,2-5
Energy level	48.43±18.04	63.12±2.50	65.62±16.21	56.25±16.58	68.43±7.68	1-3,1-5

*Variance analysis in repeated measurements. 1=before the operation. 2=3 months after the operation. 3=6 months after the operation. 4=1 year after the operation. 5=1 year after the operation

While there was not a statistically significant difference in activity pain of the patients in both groups, assessments of resting pain were found to be statistically significantly different in month 3 (p=0.032) and after 2 years (p=0.00) in favor of the HP group. No statistically significant difference was detected at each assessment point when ROM and functional status of the patients were compared. When depressive symptoms of the patients in both groups were compared at different assessment points, a statistically significant difference was detected in the HP group in only the month 6 assessments (p=0.000). When the overall qualities of life of the patients were compared, a statistically significant difference was detected in favor of the HP group in all subparameters except emotional status, physical role limitation, pain, and energy level in month 3 and in all subparameters except physical status and social status in month 6. A statistically significant difference was detected in favor of the HP group in all subparameters except physical status, emotional role limitation, and pain after 1 year, and a significant difference was detected in favor of the HP group in physical status and social status and in favor of the SP group in emotional role limitation, pain, and overall quality of life parameters (Table 4).

Table 4.

Differences between supervised physiotherapy and the standardized home program

Variables	Before theoperation	3 mo	6 mo	1 year	2 years
	t	t	t	t	t
Pain (VAS)
Rest	0.128	2.240*	−1.556	0.303	9.412*
Activity	1.676	0.279	1.948	0.945	−0.847
ROM(°)
Flexion	−2.417*	−1.558	0.397	−1.331	−0.415
Extension	−0.695	−1.266	−1.380	−0.604	0.941
Functional status (WOMAC)	2.589*	0.441	−0.073	1.317	−0.180
Beck depression scale	1.880	−0.015	0.019*	0.041	1.064
Overall quality of life scale (SF-36)
Overall health status	−1.953	−0.168	−2.313*	−4.491*	−1.778
Physical status	−2.602*	−0.881	−1.641	−1.889	−2.364*
Emotional status	−0.584	−5.684*	−5.904*	−2.103*	−0.215
Social status	−1.013	−0.187	−0.957	−3.526*	−2.943*
Physical role limitation	−0.941	−3.599*	−7.508*	−2.848*	1.537
Emotional role limitation	1.571	−2.269	−4.656*	−0.726	3.204*
Pain	−1.062	5.653*	−2.196*	1.456	2.383*
Energy level	−0.478	−6.354*	−3.403*	−2.214*	0.981

*Statistically significant (p <0.05), independent samples t-test

A cost analysis was performed for physical therapy and rehabilitation services following TKA. The total costs were 508.6 TL for the SP group and 299.40 TL for the HP group. The home exercise program reduced spending for health (physiotherapy and rehabilitation applications) (Table 5).

Table 5.

Cost analysis of physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatments in the physiotherapy and home program groups (based on 2013 Health Practices Notification prices)

Applications	Physiotherapygroup (TL)	Home programgroup (TL)
Preoperative assessment	15.50	15.50
Weekly postoperative control	-	93.00 (15.50×6)
Assessment at 1 month post operation	15.50	15.50
Physical therapy outpatient clinic examination	15.50	15.50
Physical therapy outpatient clinic assessment	15.50	15.50
Treatment parameters
Warm heat application	2.40	-
TENS application	2.40	-
ROM exercises	4.80	4.80
Progressive resistance exercises	3.60	3.60
Total price of the session	264 (13.20×20)	50.40 (8.40×6)
Outpatient clinic examination after 10 sessions	15.50	-
Outpatient clinic examination after 20 sessions	15.50	-
Assessment at 3 months post operation	15.50	15.50
Assessment at 6 months post operation	15.50	15.50
Assessment at 1 year post operation	15.50	15.50
Assessment at 2 years post operation	15.50	15.50
Transportation fee (round trip)	89.60 (3.20×28)	32.00 (3.20×10)
Total cost	508.60	299.40

TENS: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. TL: Turkish Lira

DISCUSSION

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a quite effective method for treatment of knees with severe degenerative arthritis not treated with other treatment methods20), and the number of patients undergoing TKA has been gradually increasing in our country as in other countries throughout the world in recent years21).

Physical limitations arising with surgical intervention are similar in knee surgeries. Surgeons direct their patients to physiotherapy following surgical intervention due to loss of motion of the joint, accessory movement, quadriceps muscle atrophy, tissue edema, and walking, stability, pain, balance, and functional limitations22, 23). Physiotherapy and rehabilitation are usually recommended to help patients become functionally independent following knee surgery and to help them return to their pre-disease conditions. Supervised physiotherapy two or three times weekly is a commonly preferred method of achieving these goals7, 24). Today, the increased cost of health care and the sector becoming open to competition naturally increase the interest of economists and politicians in cost analysis, and cost-effectiveness calculations have begun to be performed for every application in health25). Cost-effectiveness studies for evaluation and determination of the causes of increasing costs play an effective role in controlling expenditures10, 12, 26). Increased health-care costs bring critical analysis for cost-effectiveness in physiotherapy applications together. Some studies have focused on home exercise, and home exercises have been shown to be as effective as supervised physical therapy8). There has been no study in our country determining the needs for physiotherapy and rehabilitation following hospital discharge after TKA, comparing supervised physiotherapy and rehabilitation and standardized home programs, and performing cost analyses fort he programs. Therefore, we planned to compare the functional outcomes and costs of a standardized home program and supervised physiotherapy.

While many studies are available in the literature comparing supervised rehabilitation and a standardized home program following anterior crucial ligament repair, there are very few studies about TKA. The available studies indicate that there is no significant difference between patients treated with supervised physiotherapy and those treated with a standardized home exercise program with respect to range of motion of the knee joint, functional status of the patient, and overall health status of the patient8, 27, 28). In our study, this comparison was performed for patients who were followed up for a minimum of 2 years prospectively. While a statistically significant difference was not detected in most of the parameters, a significant difference was detected in some parameters in different assessment periods in favor of the HP group, and there was only a statistically significant difference in favor of the SP group in the emotinal role limitation and pain subparameters of the overall quality of life scale, but only at the 2-year assessments. In the assessments, statistically significant differences were usually observed between the two groups in the overall quality of life subscales. These differences may have arisen from the perceptions of the patients. Such differences in the 2 years assessments seems insignificant.

The cost analysis performed in the present study was based on the Health Practices Notification (HPN) published by Social Security Institution in 2013. The total cost of rehabilitation was determined to be 508.60 TL in the SP group and 299.40 TL in the HP group according to official prices of the HPN. The cost of treatment in the SP group was almost twice that in the HP group, although there was no difference between the treatment applications in terms of outcome even though there was a significant difference in favor of the HP group in some parameters.

Patients with TKA experience some difficulties when they benefit from physical therapy and rehabilitation outpatient clinic services. In addition, delay of treatment due to crowded clinics and inadequate physical conditions leads to delays in rehabilitation programs for patients and loss of motivation in patients. Considering the economic burden of health care, we consider that it would be sufficient to instruct patients on how to perform a well-planned home exercise program and to have a physiotherapist perform regular follow-ups.