Intensidade de dor, força muscular e equilíbrio corporal em pacientes submetidos à artroplastia total do joelho

Abstract

Introduction. The pain is an important symptom that could be related to alteration of body balance in patients who has osteoarthritis and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Objective. To analyze the intensity of pain, functionality, muscle strength, static and dynamic balance in patients submitted to TKA and to compare with healthy control. Methods. There were 40 subjects, 20 of them were evaluated in three phases: (1) pre-operatory, (2) 6 months after TKA and (3) 12 months after TKA and 20 others healthy people evaluated in one only moment. The evaluation of pain and functionality were done with Numeric Pain Scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, respectively. The static body balance was evaluated by stabilometry measuring the oscillating area of the center of pressure oscillating, and average speed of the center of pressure oscillating (AS of CPO). The dynamic balance was assessed through the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). And the strength of the muscles of lower members was measured by a manual dynamometer. Results. The intensity of knee pain of those one submitted to TKA was significantly major in preoperative phase (4,05 ±0,84) when related to six (1,95 ± 0,62; p < 0,0001) and twelve months (1,9 ± 0,64; p < 0,007) after surgery. It was observed significant increase of WOMAC score in operated member at six (26,43 ± 5,508) and twelve months (31,48 ± 3,920) after surgery when compared to preoperative period (52,33 ± 3,98) (p<0,01). In intragroup comparisons in AP direction, the AS of CPO increased significantly, in TKA group, after six months (2,90 mm/s ± 0,36) and after twelve months (2,30 mm/s ± 0,31) when compared to preoperative (1,98 mm/s ± 0,16) (p< 0,05). There was no significant difference in area of CPO in intragroup (p=0,3280) and intergroups (p=0,2236) comparisons. The dynamic balance in intragroup comparisons increased significantly in six months (p=0,001) and twelve months (p<0,01) when compared to preoperative. There was significantly increased of hip and knee muscles in operated patients six and twelve months after surgery comparing to preoperative (p<0,05). When comparing healthy control group to TKA group it was observed a lower pain intensity, better functionality, major muscle strength and static and dynamic balance in control group than preoperative, six and twelve months after surgery (p<0,001). Conclusion. The intensity of pain influence in a negative way the functionality, muscle strength, static and dynamic balance in patients with severe osteoarthritis and TKA related to healthy control.