Efficacy of preoperative exercise rehabilitation for patients after total knee arthroplasty: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Total knee replacement is a common surgical intervention in orthopedic practice. However, the well-known postoperative complications limit the mobility and activity of patients. The efficacy of preoperative exercise rehabilitation might be an alternative solution for this issue. Preoperative exercise rehabilitation vs. routine care control comparison for postoperative range of motion, postoperative knee joint scores, and quality of life scores were set for the updated systematic review and meta-analysis, which can help us determine the differences in postoperative range of motion, postoperative knee joint scores, and quality of life scores between the 2 groups. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were only eligible type of studies to be included. Finally, 16 RCTs (688 patients with the preoperative exercise rehabilitation, and 678 patients with routine control care) were included, with the focused outcome on postoperative range of motion, postoperative knee joint scores, and quality of life scores after total knee arthroplasty. The meta-analytic results showed that preoperative exercise rehabilitation might be associated with a better status of postoperative range of motion in the knee joints. In addition, the postoperative knee joint scores were lower and the postoperative quality of life was better in the preoperative exercise rehabilitation group when compared to routine care group. Preoperative exercise rehabilitation might be beneficial for patients with total knee arthroplasty when compared to routine care from the perspective of postoperative knee joint range of motion, knee joint scores, and quality of life. Practitioners can apply preoperative exercise rehabilitation to improve the postoperative outcome.