Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41568780›Full record

Trial reportPhysical therapy2026

Predictors of Functional Recovery in Individuals Exposed to Late-Stage Exercise Programs After Total Knee Replacement: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cristiane R Carlesso, Clair Smith, Charity G Patterson, Allyn M Bove, Sara R Piva

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Physical therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Cristiane R CarlessoDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0212-1394
Clair SmithDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3394-0237
Charity G PattersonDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-0060-0124
Allyn M BoveDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9537-8844
Sara R PivaDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-1716-3151

Funding

Influence of inflammation-related genetic variants on PT treatment response in a population affected by CLBPU19AR076725 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI SOWA, GWENDOLYN A, VO, NAM V · 2019 to 2023
$21.7M
University of Utah Program to Provide Pain Research Knowledge (UP3RK)T90DA062773 · NIDA · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI Julie M Fritz, Adam Joseph Gordon · 2024 to 2026
$1.1M
National Institute of Health (NIH)NIAMS NIH HHS U19 AR076725NIDA NIH HHS T90 DA062773NIH HEAL Initiative U19AR076725-01Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute CER-1310-06994
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

importanceTotal knee replacement (TKR) is common for advanced cartilage degeneration. Often, functional limitations persist, and late-stage exercise (2-4 months after TKR) may improve recovery.

objectiveThe objective of this study was to identify predictors of late-stage functional recovery after TKR and their variations by exercise program.

designThis study was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

settingThe settings were 1 physical therapy clinic and 4 community centers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

participantsThe study included 199 individuals (mean age = 70 years; body mass index = 31 kg/m2; 60% women).

interventionsInterventions were physical therapy exercises, community-based exercises, and usual care. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The main outcome was functional recovery at 6 months after intervention. Functional recovery was defined as ≥50% improvement on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index physical function subscale, at least somewhat better on the Global Rating of Change, and ≥ 20% improvement on ≥2 performance-based tests. Predictors were identified using logistic regression. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

resultsIn the entire cohort, 33% of participants achieved functional recovery, including 42% in the physical therapy group and 38% in the community group. Overall, better baseline health (odds ratio [OR] = 2.70 [95% CI = 1.34-5.47]), discharge to home (OR = 6.24 [95% CI = 1.94-20.09]), and higher Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale scores (OR = 1.22 [95% CI = 1.07-1.40]) predicted functional recovery. In the physical therapy group (n = 83), positive predictors were better health (OR = 4.40 [95% CI = 1.20-16.06]), discharge to home (OR = 11.67 [95% CI = 2.01-67.76]), regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR = 3.76 [95% CI = 1.11-12.78]), and as-needed use of analgesics (OR = 10.53 [95% CI = 1.75-63.48]). Negative predictors, associated with a lower likelihood of recovery, were regular use of salicylates (OR = 0.22 [95% CI = 0.07-0.74]) and greater use of pain-coping strategies (OR = 0.51 [95% CI = 0.29-0.89]). No predictors were identified in the community group (n = 76).

conclusionsBetter baseline health, discharge to home after TKR, and higher pain levels predicted functional recovery. Physical therapy provided additional benefits for a subset of participants. RELEVANCE: This evidence helps clinicians set realistic functional recovery expectations and strategies to facilitate function late after TKR.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, Replacement, KneeExercise TherapyOsteoarthritis, KneeRecovery of FunctionAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhysical Therapy ModalitiesTreatment OutcomeCommunity groupFunctional recoveryLate-stage exercisePhysical therapyPredictorTotal knee replacement

Identifiers

PMID41568780
PMCPMC13198878

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.