Objectives: The purpose was to determine the effects of preoperative physiotherapy patient education on early functional mobility of post-operative total knee arthroplasty subjects and implementation of preoperative Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) programs to shorten the length of stay and post-operative complications and improve the functional status. Materials and methods: In this study, we allocated subjects into experimental and controlled group. The experimental group of 15 subjects were participated in preoperative physiotherapy program which they had to perform on non-operated leg along with an educational booklet of preoperative exercises, information regarding the surgery and its complications. Later, the same exercises were to be performed on operated leg with regular post-operative program. Whereas the controlled group of the remaining 15 subjects participated only in the post-operative physiotherapy rehabilitation program. Results: Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and unpaired t test. VAS, ROM, WOMAC and SF-12 scores were used to evaluate the pre and post assessment. Experimental group showed a significant improvement in the functional status, reduced length of hospital stay, decreased pain and less post operative complications. The experimental group had decreased intensity of pain, increased ROM, decreased disability (P < 0.0001) respectively and improved functional status (P < 0.0002) than compared to the controlled group, showing no significant difference in the controlled group. Conclusion: Our study concluded that preoperative physiotherapy patient education along with post-operative rehabilitation program can reduce the post-operative complications, the length of hospital stay and improve the functional status of the subjects who underwent TKA.
