Effect of home-based vs inpatient rehab on mobility after total knee

Editor's Note

The use of inpatient rehabilitation compared with a monitored home-based program did not improve mobility at 26 weeks after total knee surgery, this study finds.

In the study, 81 patients received 10 days of hospital inpatient rehabilitation followed by an 8-week home-based program, and 87 patients received only the home-based program.

There was no significant difference in the 6-minute walk test between the inpatient rehabilitation and home program groups, nor in inpatient reported pain and function, or quality of life.

The number of postdischarge complications was 12 for the inpatient group and 9 for the home group.

The study findings do not support inpatient rehabilitation for this group of patients, the authors say.

This randomized clinical trial compares the effects on mobility of in-hospital and home rehabilitation vs home rehabilitation alone for patients following total knee arthroplasty.