Effect of a Self-Care Application on Pain and Motor Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background and purpose: Today, development of telemedicine technology has led to wide use of smartphone to connect patients and health care teams to improve patient care. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a self-care application on pain and mobility rehabilitation in patients following total knee arthroplasty surgery. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in 100 patients who were candidates for knee arthroplasty surgery at Tehran Baqiyatullah (Aj) Hospital. In this study, the experimental group was provided with a self-care application and the control group received routine hospital care. At days 7 and 14 after the surgery, the two groups were evaluated for pain and mobility rehabilitation using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Von Korff Pain Intensity and Disability Score. Results: Out of 100 people, 30 were men and 70 were women with an average age of 48.66±15.62. Findings showed significant differences between the two groups, at day 14 after the surgery, in mobility rehabilitation (P= 0.004) and pain (P= 0.001) at 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: According to this study, the self-care application improved pain and motor recovery after total knee arthroplasty surgery. (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20210724051973N1)

Keywords

• arthroplasty
• self-care
• telemedicine
• smartphone