Factors affecting one-leg standing time in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis and the age-related recovery process following total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND The aims of the present study were to investigate the factors affecting one-leg standing (OLS) time in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to clarify the age-related recovery process following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the early postoperative period. METHODS A total of 80 knees of 40 patients with knee OA were enrolled. They were asked to perform relaxed standing on one leg for as long as possible. First, OLS time was measured. Second, age, body mass index, knee flexion angle during (KFA) OLS, femorotibial angle (FTA) during OLS, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was done to identify the factors affecting OLS time. In addition, the recovery process was compared between older and younger patients after TKA. RESULTS A larger KFA during OLS, older age, and larger FTA were significantly associated with shorter OLS time. After TKA, postoperative OLS time in older patients did not improve significantly by postoperative day 20, while the time in younger patients improved significantly from postoperative day 19. CONCLUSIONS Even if subjective knee pain and KFA during OLS improved, longer rehabilitation was required to improve OLS time in older patients in the early postoperative period.