To investigate relation between physical activity levels and obesity in patients with total knee arthroplasty

Purpose: To investigate relation between postoperative physical activity levels and obesity in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Material - Methods: 103 patient?s who were mean age was 66,9 ± 8,1 years and were applied primary TKA minumum 1 year ago, demografics characteristics, body mass index (BMI), knee functions and physical activity levels were evalueted. Patient?s physical activity levels were evalueted with ?Modified Baecke Questionnaire for Older Adults (MBQ)?, knee functions were evalueted with `Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Scale (HSS)?. Patients were divided in two groups according to preoperative BMI values; obese (BMI? 30 kg/m2, n= 44 patients), nonobese (BMI>30 kg/m2, n= 37 patients). Preoperative BMI and HSS knee scores were obtained from hospital records and were compared with postoperative BMI and HSS knee scores. Nonobese and obese patient?s physical activity levels, preoperative HSS and postoperative HSS knee functions were compared.Results: While there were no significant differences between preoperative knee scores in two groups (p=0,670), there were significant differences between postoperative knee scores in two groups in favour of nonobese group (p=0,001). In two group patient?s preoperative BMI were increased significantly in postoperative period (p=0,000). In the same way, In two group patient?s preoperative HSS knee scores were increased significantly in postoperative period (p=0,000). There were no significant differences between postoperative physical activity levels in obese and non-obese group (p=0,412).Discussion: Although TKA surgery was increased patient?s knee functions , it didn?t have an effect on body weight reduction. While after surgery lose of weight was expected, but on the contrary body weight was increased. Knee functions were increased in two groups, but this increment was more in nonobese patient than obese patient. There were no significant differences between postoperative physical activity levels in obese and nonobese group, for that reason another factors which cause obesity must be investigated for treatment of obesity.Key Words : Total Knee Arthroplasty, Obesity, Physical Activity