+AA
Back
Rehabilitation at home can be just as good as hospital-based rehabilitation for patients after knee surgery
Evidence Summary
What is an Evidence Summary?
Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisRehabilitation at home can be just as good as hospital-based rehabilitation for patients after knee surgery
Donghai Li, Zhouyuan Yang, Pengde Kang, Xiaowei Xie. Home-based compared with hospital-based rehabilitation program for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials American journal of physical and medical rehabilitation. 2016 Aug.
Review question
- How does home-based rehabilitation compare to hospital-based rehabilitation in terms of quality of life and physical performance after hospital discharge following knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis?
Background
- Many elderly individuals undergo knee replacement surgery to treat pain and joint dysfunction resulting from osteoarthritis. However, upon discharge there are numerous rehabilitation programs with little evidence supporting their effectiveness.
- Currently, patients are discharged to home after knee replacement surgery and receive outpatient rehabilitation routinely at the hospital. However, one idea catching interest is home-based rehabilitation which allows patients to receive physiotherapy and rehabilitation in their homes.
- This study aimed to compare home-based with hospital-based rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis patients, in terms of quality of life and physical performance improvements.
How the review was done
- A detailed search of four electronic databases was conducted for studies published from 1974 to February 2016. Studies that compared the effects and costs of home-based rehabilitation to hospital-based rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis patients were included.
- A total of 168 studies were identified in searches, and seven were included in the review after assessments for eligibility.
- This review was funded with support from the National Natural Science Fund of China.
What the researchers found
- This review found that home-based rehabilitation is similar to hospital-based rehabilitation in terms of physical performance at 12 and 52 weeks post-surgery.
- The review also found that the hospital-based group had less pain than the home-based group. However, range of motion of knee flexion in the home-based group was better than the hospital-based group.
- This review found that the costs of the two rehabilitation programs were similar.
Conclusion
- This review found that the use of home-based rehabilitation is comparable to hospital-based rehabilitation, in terms of quality of life and physical performance of patients such as knee range of motion. The study concludes that rehabilitation at home can be recommended as an alternative. However, these results should be used with caution as further research with more participants is required.
Related Evidence Summaries
-
Nutritional strategies can improve body composition in underweight and overweight older adults
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports (2016) -
Exercise alone, and in combination with different fall prevention strategies may lower the risk of falls leading to injuries in older adults 65 and over
JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association (2017) -
Innovative hip and knee replacement devices do not improve function more than conventional devices and may increase need for revision surgery
BMJ (2014)
Related Web Resources
-
Preventing Blood Clots After Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery or Surgery for a Broken Hip: A Review of the Research for Adults
OHRIThis patient decision aid helps adults considering or planning to have a total hip or knee replacement surgery or surgery for a broken hip decide on the best method for preventing blood clots after surgery. It facilitates the process by outlining and comparing the benefits, risks and side effects of each treatment option. -
Healthy Bones: A Decision Aid for Women After Menopause
OHRIThis patient decision aid helps women who have gone through menopause and may have osteoporosis decide on methods to keep your bones healthy. It facilitates the process by outlining and comparing the choices such as medicine, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and exercise. -
Osteoporosis
Informed Health OnlineAge, sex, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, family history, drinking alcohol, and smoking are a few risk factors for the development of osteoporosis. Help prevent osteoporosis by consuming a diet rich in calcium, regularly exercising, getting enough vitamin D, and not smoking.
DISCLAIMER These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the ÆßÃõ¼º½ Optimal Aging Portal
(info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).
Register for free access to all Professional content
RegisterWant the latest in aging research? Sign up for our email alerts.
Subscribe Our Content
About
Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. .
