Investigation of factors affecting proprioception early period following total knee arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting proprioception in the first month after surgery in participants with total knee arthroplasty. 35 participants with a mean age of 65,54±6,37 years and in the postoperative first month were included in the study group; 35 participants with a mean age of 64,63±6,56 years and with no any knee disease were included in the control group. The sociodemographic information, range of motion, circumference measurement, proprioception, balance, gait and kinesiophobia scores of the participants were recorded. There was a significant difference in the range of motion, postoperative edema and proprioception of operative sides of the participants in the study group compared to the nonoperative sides of the participants in the study group and preffered sides of the control group (p<0.05). In addition, decreases in balance and gait parameters of the participants in the study group were determined (p<0.05). There was a moderate correlation between loss of range of motion of the operated knee and loss of range of motion of the hip and ankle (p<0.05). In addition, there was a moderate correlation between the static and dinamic balance and gait parameters (p<0.05). 40˚ knee flexion proprioception were found to be affected by body mass index, postoperative edema and kinesiophobia (p <0.05). In this study, loss of range of motion, postoperative edema, loss of proprioception, loss of balance, gait disturbances and kinesiophobia were seen in patients with total knee arthroplasty. The causes affecting proprioception at first month after total knee arthroplasty are follows: body mass index, postoperative edema and kineshiophobia. In the success of the rehabilitation program in the first month after total knee arthroplasty, it is neccessary to decrease body mass index, reduce postoperative edema and prevent kineshiophobia in order to reduce proprioception loss. Keywords: postoperative edema, body mass index, kineshiophobia, proprioception, total knee arthroplasty