The Role of Physical Therapy in Knee Arthroplasty

Finding a favourable outcome after knee replacement surgery may be long and hard. Physical therapy (PT) is a common tool to optimize the efficacy of rehabilitation and post-operative outcomes while having little to no adverse effects. First contact with a physical therapy is common during preoperative preparation, where the patient learns to walk with crutches and undergo activities of daily living. Only hours after surgery will patients be mobilized with little to no restrictions. Since TKA has a limited length of hospital stays, outpatient guidance and rehabilitation gain more importance. With the introduction of Patient Engagement platforms, wearables, exergaming and developments like extended scope physical therapist, the role of the physical therapist over time has changed.