Osteoarthrititis

Functions and physical functioning after total knee arthroplasty surgery - Danielle Bergmans 2019

Knee osteoarthritis and aquatic cycling: Development and evaluation of an exercise programme - Stefanie Rewald 2018

Aquatic cycling: a new way to train damaged knees
Cycling, water and damaged knees – Stefanie Rewald researched whether aquatic cycling can help reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis. It is the first time this form of training was researched in the Netherlands. Participants cycled twice a week in a swimming pool. After twelve weeks of aquatic cycling, the participants had less knee pain, more mobility and they enjoyed the exercise. Aquatic cycling, when done under expert supervision, could therefore become a new training option for the 600,000 people in the Netherlands with knee osteoarthritis. Maastricht plans to continue with this form of training and set up an aquatic cycling group at the Geusseltbad together with Maastricht Sport. Here, people can cycle at their own level. The study was conducted at the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+) and was financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

Link to dissertation

Preoperative interventions in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee replacement : neuromuscular training and patient education - Erika Huber 2015

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a leading cause of disability in later age. Prolonged hospitalization after total knee replacement due to decreased physical fitness during the pre-surgery period increases the economic burden on society. Thus, preoperative exercise might be beneficial. Based on the work in this thesis, we are unable to recommend the implementation of preoperative exercise as a standard treatment in clinical practice. Alongside strengthening and aerobic exercise, neuromuscular exercise could be applied, but further research should explore what types of exercise, at what frequency, intensity and duration is best to help patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Link to dissertation

Tailoring conservative care in osteoarthritis - Thomas Hoogeboom 2013

This dissertation studied the care needs and treatment of people with advanced osteoarthritis. It turned out that people with osteoarthritis in several joints run a higher risk of developing serious complaints in pain, physical and psychological functioning. A feasibility study into the effectiveness of a treatment showed important differences in care needs between patients. In follow-up research this should be taken into account. It was also shown that approximately 25% of the people waiting for a new joint as a consequence of osteoarthritis deteriorate in pain and functioning. This can have negative consequences for the outcomes of the operation. For these people, the usefulness of an intensive therapeutic training prior to the surgery was investigated. Literature studies show that this type of training is not useful for young, fit persons. However, fragile, elderly persons possibly benefit from such training. Particularly this last group did not participate in the feasibility study, because they could not come to the hospital. In follow-up research, therefore, the practitioner will have to visit he patients.

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Aspects of physiotherapy in the peri-operative management of total knee arthroplasty patients - Ton Lenssen 2007

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal condition affecting older people, causing pain, physical disability and reduced quality of life. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered the treatment of choice for patients with intractable pain and substantial functional disabilities who have not had acceptable relief and functional improvement after conservative treatment. Although there is general agreement that exercises completed after TKA promote walking and independence in activities of daily living, the relative advantages of peri-operative rehabilitation programmes in this population have not been extensively documented. This thesis presents the results of several studies on different aspects of physiotherapy (PT) treatment in the perioperative care of TKA patients. The key issue in this thesis is the role of continuous passive motion (CPM) in perioperative care.

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Osteoarthritis: a rehabilitative approach in general practice - Peter Heuts 2006