Tracking Recovery After TKA with Instrumented Timed Up and Go: Spatiotemporal, Rotational, and Strength Adaptations over Six Months.

Authors

Elina Gianzina, Christos K Yiannakopoulos, Andreas Bourantanis, Elias Armenis, Georgios Kalinterakis, Efstathios Chronopoulos, Elissavet Rousanoglou

Published in

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland). Volume 26. Issue 20. Oct 17, 2026. Epub Oct 17, 2026.

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of disability, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) improves pain and functional mobility, although gait impairments may persist postoperatively. This study investigated longitudinal changes in patient-reported outcomes, muscle strength, and gait performance using an instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG) test with wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs). Twenty-two patients with end-stage KOA were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score five-subscale composite (KOOS5) showed a significant overall change over time (p < 0.001), while isometric muscle strength showed significant overall changes across all tested muscle groups (p ≤ 0.008), with mean values demonstrating an initial postoperative decline followed by subsequent increases. Total TUG duration showed a significant overall time effect (p = 0.023), with significant reductions observed in the forward and return gait phases (p = 0.012 and p = 0.001, respectively). End-turning maximum rotational speed and sit-to-stand vertical acceleration showed significant overall time effects (p = 0.012 and p = 0.024, respectively), whereas the remaining parameters did not reach statistical significance. These findings indicate that recovery following TKA is multidimensional, with significant changes in patient-reported outcomes, muscle strength, and functional mobility. iTUG analysis identified phase-specific changes, while several turning and transitional parameters did not show significant longitudinal changes, supporting the use of targeted rehabilitation strategies focusing on dynamic stability and movement control.

PMID:
42944448
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Oct 2026.

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