The Effect of a Rehabilitation Program with Progressive Intensity on Dynamic Growth of Lower Extremity Strength in the Elderly with Osteoarthritis after Total Knee Arthroplasty

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of a rehabilitation program with progressive intensity on the dynamic growth of lower extremity strength in the elderly with osteoarthritis after total knee arthroplasty. For this purpose، 30 elderly subjects who the same physician operated on their knees with a technique similar to total knee arthroplasty were studied in two training groups (each group 15 subjects). The training regimen of one group was typical physical training for knee arthroplasty. But in the other group، the intensity of training increased periodically. ANOVA results showed a significant progress of lower extremity strength in both groups. But the results of strength test showed that the group with intensity performed 25% better than the other group (P=0. 016). These results indicated that the dynamic growth of lower extremity strength may stop if gradual increase of training intensities is disregard in the elderly after knee arthroplasty.