Improving Physical Activity and Gait Symmetry After Total Knee Arthroplasty

The PAS program will be initiated during the final usual care PT visits. The PAS content will be included within the last two routine PT visits (Sessions 1 and 2). Session 1 will emphasize the importance of PA in TKA recovery, work with participants to establish SMART goals regarding overall PA and provide community-based and other resources to support overall PA. Session 2 will include balance exercise content to improve joint loading symmetry and home exercises will be assigned. Then, PAS participants will receive a follow-up phone call after 4 weeks (to assist with activity progression and problem-solving) and an additional in-person visit after 8 weeks (to visually monitor exercise performance and re-assess proportional weight-bearing ability).

This will include usual in-person post TKA PT followed by 2 additional contacts (Session 1 and 2) with the physical therapist. Session 1 (phone) will review recovery benchmarks, assessment of participants' daily activities and reminders about symptoms that should trigger contacting a medical professional. Session 2 (in-person) will involve physical performance tests and comparison to appropriate normative values.