Background
Participation in physical activity can improve both general health status and postoperative satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Previously, surgeons usually recommended only sedentary activities after TKA because of concern about early implant failure. However, due to the introduction of modern surgical techniques and prostheses, surgeons may now recommend more participation in physical activity. After TKA, the level of physical activity can be influenced by multiple factors including socio-demographic characteristics, postoperative pain and functional status. However, information about physical activity profiles before and after TKA and factors that influence physical activity is lacking. Furthermore, patients who regularly participate in physical activity after TKA may be more satisfied with the surgical outcome than less active patients. However, no studies have examined the relationship between physical activities and the level of postoperative satisfaction in non-selected patients after TKA.
Thus, this study was undertaken to describe the physical activity profiles of Korean patients before and after TKA and to determine whether socio-demographic factors and postoperative functional status influence postoperative activity levels. We also sought to determine whether regular physical activity is associated with patient postoperative satisfaction. We hypothesized that patients are more physically active postoperatively, that socio-demographic factors and postoperative functional status influence physical activity levels and that regular physical activity is associated with greater postoperative satisfaction.