Background: Postoperative low back pain (LBP) is a common complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), affecting patients’ recovery and quality of life. Pelvic alignment may influence LBP and functional outcomes in TKA patients. This study aime...
Background: Postoperative low back pain (LBP) is a common complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), affecting patients’ recovery and quality of life. Pelvic alignment may influence LBP and functional outcomes in TKA patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pelvic reset exercise on pain, pelvic stability, and functional mobility in TKA patients with chronic LBP.
Methods: Forty patients with chronic LBP (>6 months) post-TKA were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (pelvic reset exercise, n=20) and the control group (abdominal drawing-in exercise using biofeedback, n=20). Both groups performed 30-minute sessions, three times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures included the quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS) for pain, hip stability isometric test (Hip SIT), timed up and go (TUG) test for mobility, Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI), and SF-12 for quality of life. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired and independent t-tests. The significance level was set at α = .05.
Results: Both groups showed significant within-group pain reduction (p<.001), with a significantly greater decrease in the experimental group (p<.05). Hip SIT improved significantly only in the experimental group (p<.001), with significant between-group differences (p<.01). TUG scores improved in both groups, with a greater change in the experimental group (p<.05). Improvements in KODI and SF-12 were also more notable in the experimental group, all were statistically significant between groups (p<.05).
Conclusion: Pelvic reset exercise is effective in reducing pain, improving hip stability, enhancing functional mobility and quality of life in TKA patients with chronic LBP. It may be considered a beneficial intervention for postoperative rehabilitation in this population.