Does Physical Therapy Prevent Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With End Stage Osteoarthritis

Does Physical Therapy Prevent Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With End Stage Osteoarthritis

Purpose: For the target population of adult patients with end stage osteoarthritis, this randomized clinical trial will be used to evaluate the benefit of three months of physical therapy compared to no treatment in patients indicated for total knee arthroplasty.

Participants:Patients that are diagnosed with end stage osteoarthritis who are indicated for total knee arthroplasty.

Procedures: Patients will be randomized to either receive physical therapy or no treatment. They will be scheduled to return in 3 months for discussion of operative versus continued nonoperative treatment of their osteoarthritis.This will be determined by change in PROMIS (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System) score and prevention of surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients with grade 3 and 4 (severe) osteoarthritis and indicated for primary total knee arthroplasty.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age less than 18 y/o
• Any form of arthritis other than osteoarthritis (traumatic, rheumatic, etc)
• Previous knee surgery
• Inability to personally consent to or participate with therapy due to cognitive impairment, physical disability, intoxication or sedation
• known contraindications would include patients that will be unable to participate with therapy or who will put themselves at significant risk due to therapy (this could be either severe cardiac or respiratory impairment that prevents the patient from ambulating or mental impairment preventing the patients from following instructions