Research Profile - Training for the big event
Dr. Allyson Jones
A University of Alberta researcher is studying whether home exercises can improve knee replacement surgery results in osteoarthritis patients.
For many people with end-stage osteoarthritis (OA), their best chance is knee replacement surgery to relieve the joint pain and improve function. Unfortunately, not everyone experiences the same benefits. According to Dr. Allyson Jones at the University of Alberta, basic stretching and strengthening exercises could help patients get more out of knee surgery.
At a Glance
Who: Dr. Allyson Jones at the University of Alberta
Issue: Osteoarthritis patients who are in poor physical condition before receiving a knee replacement don’t benefit as much from the surgery as other patients.
Solution: Dr. Jones and her team are investigating whether using exercises to maintain or improve patients’ mobility before surgery will improve the results of knee replacement.
Impact: Dr. Jones’ research could lead to an inexpensive strategy for boosting the effectiveness of joint replacement surgery as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
In a previous study, Dr. Jones found that patients who were in poor physical condition before undergoing knee replacement didn't fare as well as other patients. They were less mobile and experienced more pain at six months after surgery than other patients who received knee replacements.
"Although the rate of recovery was about the same in most patients, their functional status before surgery seems to make a big difference in the outcome of surgery," says Dr. Jones.
This observation inspired Dr. Jones and her team to investigate whether using exercises to improve patients' mobility before surgery would improve the outcomes after knee replacement. In a study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Dr. Jones is recruiting patients from the Edmonton Musculoskeletal Centre who have very limited mobility before knee replacement surgery. These patients will either be assigned to an exercise program or follow usual care while waiting for their knee replacement.
Many of the patients in the study have difficulty moving, so they will perform basic stretches and strengthening exercises at home while they await surgery. The patients in the study's treatment group will have a physiotherapist visit them twice and call them regularly during the eight week program.
Through questionnaires and follow-up visits to the Musculoskeletal Centre before and after the surgery, Dr. Jones will be able to assess the impact of the exercise program.
"We'll be looking at factors such as how much pain patients experience, knee mobility, muscle strength and overall health," says Dr. Jones. "In addition to looking at whether the exercises are beneficial, we'll also assess the cost effectiveness of the program."
If the study shows that exercises practiced while waiting for surgery are beneficial, Dr. Jones plans to expand her research to include a more intense exercise program for those patients who are waiting for knee replacements and have less pain and difficulties moving than this current group.