Effects of a Perioperative Action Observation and Motor Imagery Training in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Effects of a Perioperative Action Observation and Motor Imagery Training in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

The study is aimed at investigating the effects of action observation and motor imagery training in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Fifty participants will be enrolled during hospital admission and randomized into 2 groups (AO+MI and CTRL groups). AO+MI will undergo 12-minute AO+MI intervention for 3 days (preoperative day, first and second postoperartive days), whereas CTRL group will undergo usual care. At baseline, first and third postoperative days, participants will be assessed for mobility, pain, range of motion, quadriceps acrivation failure and patient's bady-pain representation by a blinded operator.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty
• age greater or equal to 18 years old
• ability to walk independently.

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous total knee arthoplasty on the contralateral side
• revision surgery
• dementia
• musculoskeletal and neurological disorders influencing functional recovery
• visual or auditory deficits.
• postoperative complications
• weight bearing restrictions
• lack of walking independency within the second postoperative day.