Evaluation of Walking Ability after TKA for RA, Using a Pedometer

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Purpose: We evaluated walking ability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in RA patients objec-tively by measuring the numbers of steps using a pedometer.<BR>Methods and Materials: We examined 21 patients with RA who underwent TKA in our institute between December 2001 and November 2002. Their postoperative follow-up periods were at least 6 months. The patients walked on the pedometer at before operation and at of 1, 3, 6 and 9 months, and 1 year after operation. We evaluated walking ability after TKA using a pedometer and studied the factors influencing walking ability.<BR>Results: Walking ability in the patients was not strongly related to the severity of joint disease in the lower extremities except in the operated knee. However, young patients (less than 60 years old) showed more improvement. Also, patients whose CRP, as a parameter of control of general RA conditions, was less than 1.0 mg/dl in the post-operation period, improved their walking ability. In addition, limitation of knee extension pre- and post-operation made it difficult to improve walking ability.<BR>Conclusions: This study suggested that the pedometer is a useful device for evaluating walking ability after TKA. Improvement of walking ability was related to the patient's age, CRP in the post-operation period, and limitation of knee extension pre- and post-operation.
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