Study on How Ankle Movement Limits Affect Knee Recovery After Total Knee Replacement in Adults Aged 65 to 85

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates how a limited range of motion in the ankle joint, specifically dorsiflexion of the tibio-talar joint, may affect recovery after knee replacement surgery. The study focuses on patients aged 65 to 85 years undergoing primary total knee replacement, aiming to understand if ankle joint deficits can limit full knee extension and overall motion recovery. Patients eligible for the study are assessed before surgery to measure ankle joint movement. Those with limited ankle dorsiflexion are placed in the exposed group, while others form the non-exposed group. The study is observational and tracks these patients during their treatment at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, involving departments of orthopaedics and rehabilitation medicine. Participants will undergo joint movement measurements before surgery, with physiotherapists assessing both the ankle and knee while patients lie down. The main outcome is the range of motion of the knee joint, measured pre-operatively. The study will follow patients over time to observe how ankle movement limitations influence knee recovery after surgery, with data collected to guide future treatment approaches.

Correlation Between Deficits in Knee ROM Recovery and Difficulty in Dorsiflexing the Tibio-tarsal Joint in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Replacement Surgery.