Comparison of the effectiveness of late exercise training for the person who had a total knee replacement

The aim of this study was to find out the effect of late exercise training on quality of life, fear of movement, pain and joint stiffness in patients with total knee replacement after knee osteoarthritis. Twenty volunteer subjects, 14 females and 6 males, aged 55 years and older who had total knee replacement at least 6 months ago were included in the study. An exercise program was created particularly for this study. This 8-weeks exercise program was taught to the patients 5 times a week, twice a day, 15 repetitions each, and leaflets were given to them with explanations of the exercise visuals in order to remind. Exercise follow-up was performed regularly.For exercise follow-up, individuals were observed at home once a week. Short Form 36(SF-36) scale was used to measure quality of life, Western Ontario Mc Masters Osteoartrit İndeksi (WOMAC) was used to assess joint stiffness, Visual Analog Skala (VAS) scale for pain, and Tampa Kinezyofobi (TKÖ) was used to measure fear of movement. The tests were repeated before and after the exercise by the same physiotherapist. The collected datas were recorded, analyzed and the results were compared. When the data obtained were examined, there was a decrease in pain before and after exercise. Similarly, there was a decrease in fear of movement and joint stiffness, and an increase in physical function, energy and mental health parameters. These changes were determined to be significant (p<0,05). Although there was a positive change in physical role and general health perception parameters, the results were not significant (p>0,05). As a result, it has been shown that exercise therapy can be used to reduce pain, minimize the fear of movement and improve physical function in patients had a total knee replacement. Key words: Total knee replacement, Fear of movement, Quality of life, Exercise, Pain.