Effect of the GoKnee Intervention on Knee Range of Motion, Pain, and Functional Mobility after Total Knee Arthroplasty

The prevalence of total knee arthroplasties (TKA) is rapidly increasing, but there is currently no standardized postoperative treatment approach, or a single treatment shown to be significantly better than others. The GoKnee device was created by physical therapists as an affordable treatment option after TKA to help patients achieve faster recovery of function. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether the GoKnee device significantly improved objective and functional measurements after TKA. Twenty-nine patients who had recently undergone TKA participated. All data were collected by licensed physical therapists in a skilled nursing facility or home health care setting. In addition to a traditional TKA rehabilitation program, participants also followed the GoKnee protocol, which addresses their knee flexion range of motion, knee extension range of motion, and quadriceps strengthening when they use the device. Using a repeated measures design, the outcome measures of pain, knee flexion, knee extension, Timed Up and Go score, gait velocity, and 30-second sit-to-stand score were recorded at various times during treatment sessions. Differences (P < 0.001) were found for all variables for postoperative days 2 - 6 to 7 - 11. Improvements were also found for pain (P = 0.008) and knee flexion (P = 0.001) for postoperative days 7 - 11 to 12 - 16. No other differences were found (all P > 0.012). Results suggested that postoperative TKA patients had statistically significant improvements in functional and objective outcome measures after using the GoKnee device. However, with no control group for comparison, the GoKnee device should be used with caution until additional research is conducted.