After total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the patient must receive physical therapy to regain muscle strength, independent movement, and return to activities of daily living (ADL). One of the groups most frequently treated for rehabilitation during post-surgical hospitalization is patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty surgery. Studies show that post-surgical patients return to their normal daily lives within approximately 6 weeks.However, complications, infections, limitation of the knee joint, additional post-surgical disorders, circulatory problems, vascular nerve problems, pain, rheumatic diseases affect the success of the surgery and the patient's recovery process.
Enhanced Postoperative Recovery Protocols (ERAS) are defined as a multidisciplinary approach that uses a combination of evidence-based practices to improve patient care. The treatment methods included in ERAS protocols are based on the understanding that the healing process can be optimized by protecting patients from catabolism and immune system disorders with factors such as pain management, regulation of fluid therapy, early mobilization and improvement of nutrition.This protocol includes a surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, dietitian and physiotherapist. The ERAS protocol considers the patient who will undergo surgery in 3 periods: preoperative period, intraoperative period and postoperative period. Starting with informing the patient before the surgery, bowel preparation, fasting period, alcohol and smoking cessation period, pre-surgical exercise training, surgical method, use of drains or tubes, type of anesthesia, post-surgical fluid intake, switching to carbohydrates, use of analgesia, early removal of tubes and drains. It covers principles such as removal and early mobilization. Looking at the results of research conducted by different disciplines, it is seen that the hospitalization period of patients applied to the ERAS protocol is shortened, their readmissions are reduced and complications are prevented.
Physiotherapy has a very small place in this multidisciplinary team. While it is mentioned that early mobilization plays a key role, it is not emphasized that exercise will accelerate mobilization, increase muscle strength and reduce pain.
Since the place of physiotherapy in the ERAS studies examined in the literature is limited and not comprehensive, the aim of this study is to evaluate the pain, function and patient satisfaction of the pre-op patient education, pain education, exercise, quadriceps muscle stimulation, post-op physiotherapy program applied in addition to the ERAS protocol in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. To investigate its effect on
