What functional activities are important to patients with knee replacements?

There is interest in quantifying the patient's function and mobility after joint replacement. The current study identified activities important to patients having total knee replacement and the prevalence of limitations to participation in these activities. A Total Knee Function Questionnaire consisting of 55 questions addressing the patient's participation in various activities was developed, validated, and mailed to 367 patients at least 1 year after knee replacement. Patients were asked the frequency with which they did each activity, the activity's importance to them, and the extent to which their participation was limited by their knee replacement. The questionnaire was returned by 176 patients, 40% men and 60% women, with an average age of 70.5 years. The most prevalent activities were stretching exercises (73%), leg strengthening exercises (70%), kneeling (58%), and gardening (57%). The activities most important to the patients were stretching exercises (56%), kneeling (52%), and gardening (50%); those most difficult were squatting (75%), kneeling (72%), and gardening (54%). The current study showed a high correlation between the importance of activities and frequency of patient participation confirming that knee replacement successfully restores a significant degree of function. However, after knee replacement, improvements in knee function still are needed to allow patients to do all activities that they consider important.