Post-operative rehabilitation in osteoarthritis [version 1; referees: awaiting peer review]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative process involving the progressive loss of articular cartilage, synovial inflammation and structural changes to the subchondral bone that lead to loss of synovial joint structural features and impaired functionality of the articular cartilage. OA represents one of the most common causes of physical disability in the world. Different OA treatments are usually considered in relation to the stage of the disease. However, in the earlier stages of the disease, it is possible to recommend physical activity programs that can maintain joint health and keep the patient mobile, as recommended by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). In the most severe and advanced cases of OA, surgical intervention is necessary. In early post-operative stages, it is essential to include rehabilitation exercise program therapies in order to restore the full function of the involved joint. Physical therapy is crucial for the success of any surgical procedure and can promote recovery of muscle strength, range of motion, coordinated walking, proprioception and mitigate joint pain. After discharge from the hospital, patients should continue the rehabilitation exercise program at home. In this review, we analyze articles from the most recent literature and provide a balanced and comprehensive overview of the latest discoveries in relation to the effects of physical exercise on post-operative rehabilitation in OA. The literature search was conducted in April 2014 using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using the keywords ‘osteoarthritis’, ‘rehabilitation’ and ‘exercise’, in a range of period 2002/2014 and out of 100 papers we have chosen 48 that we considered more appropriate. The available data suggests that physical exercise is effective, economical and accessible to everyone, and is one of the most important components of post-operative rehabilitation for OA. 1 2-4 1 1