How much people bend their knees while walking after surgery may affect their opposite knee

Joseph Zeni
In his lab, Joseph Zeni, associate professor at Rutgers School of Health Professions, explores how to use technology such as smart phone apps and force sensors to improve patient outcomes, while reducing the amount of supervised physical therapy needed after surgery.
Photo: Rutgers School of Health Professions

Nearly a quarter of people who have total knee replacement surgery are likely to need a second surgery on their other knee within five years and this may be the result of abnormal walking patterns after surgery, according to a Rutgers study.

“If we can change the way someone moves or improve their walking ability after surgery while also reducing the need for a second knee replacement, we may also be able to reduce healthcare costs and other issues that arise with having to undergo surgery,” said lead author Joseph Zeni, an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences at Rutgers School of Health Professions.

The study, which appears in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, looked at whether movement patterns after total knee replacement surgery were associated with future surgery as a result of unbalanced movement that put more pressure on the other knee. 

It found that many people do not regain normal movement in their operated knee when walking and continue to walk with a stiffer knee after surgery. This means they may rely more heavily on the good knee for support. This can put more pressure on the good knee and cause the cartilage to wear away, increasing the risk of future surgery.

“Often surgeons, patients and therapists are concerned with restoring normal range of motion and reducing pain after surgery,” Zeni said. “Our results suggest that normalizing movement patterns, so that one leg is not favored over another should also be a goal of post-operative rehabilitation.”

Total knee replacement surgery is effective at reducing pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis, but it is expensive and painful.  According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States, with the median hospital charge nearing $50,000.

Zeni is currently testing technologies, such as movement sensors, that may provide a better picture of how patients move in real-world situations. He said monitoring patient movements outside of research laboratories will help researchers more accurately measure biomechanics, potentially changing the way people look at and undergo joint replacement surgery and post-operative rehabilitation.