Circuit training enhances function in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a well-accepted procedure for the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis of the knee joint [1], with good long-term survivorship of the implants and satisfactory surgical outcome [2]. The number of patients receiving TKA has been rising every year due to the aging population and the obesity epidemic [3‐5]. Enhancing the recovery process after TKAs is an important issue. Physical exercise was suggested to enhance muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, agility, balance, and coordination in the healthy aged population [6]. Physical exercise could further increase the range of motion and quadriceps strength in TKA patients [7]. However, these effects of post-operative exercise were usually limited by a short hospital stay, impaired exercise adherence, and in compliance to exercise regimens [8‐10].

A more balanced exercise approach is therefore recommended for TKA patients [11]. Circuit training comprised of different exercise principles, including stretching exercise, aerobic training, and resistant training. Multiple stations for training different muscle groups, stretching exercise, and aerobic exercise was employed to progress towards cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength [12]. We had previously reported its positive effect on body composition improvement in overweight women [9]. Meanwhile, good exercise adherences were also observed with concomitant increases in the mental domain of functional score, since the incidence of female osteoarthritis (OA) is twice that of men [13] and the number undergoing TKA in the female is about twice in men between 2001 and 2010 [14]. The retrospective study focused on the female and assessed the feasibility and effect of post-operative circuit training intervention on TKA. The circuit training intervention would carry out at 3 months after the operation for 6 months. The assessments of this intervention were measured using motion analysis and muscle strength testing, KOOS questionnaire, and patient-reported outcome measurement Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The goal was to demonstrate the effect, if any, that circuit training intervention might have on post-operative knee functional recovery and daily activities.

The demographic data, including age, height, and weight was similar in the exercise and control groups (Table 1). The mean age was 72 and 70 years old for the exercise and control groups, respectively.

In gait analysis, it was noted both exercise and control group were shown similar in gait parameters at pre-operation and pre-exercise evaluation. Three months after beginning exercise interventions, the stride length for exercise and control group were 101.6 ± 3.4 and 85.0 ± 5.5 cm, respectively (p = 0.01). Similarly, step length and step velocity were greater in the exercise group than those in control group. (p < 0.05) (Table 2). Meanwhile, the excursion of knee range of motion was 48.6 ± 1.2 and 44.5 ± 1.6 degree for exercise and control group, respectively (p < 0.05). The differences in stride length and excursion of knee range of motion (ROM) lasted till the post-exercise evaluation (Table 2). When comparison was performed within the individual group in temporal fashion, it was shown that stride length, stride velocity, step length, and step velocity increased in mid-excise assessment in the exercise group, while no such difference was noted in control group. The control group demonstrated increases in these parameters at post-exercise assessment (p < 0.05). Circuit training improved gait pattern at an earlier time point compared with the control group.

In isokinetic muscle strength assessment, it was shown that the maximal knee extensor torque for the exercise group was 24.4 ± 5.2, 31.4 ± 3.3, 44.0 ± 4.8, and 51.0 ± 5.9 N-m/Kg for pre-operation, pre-exercise, mid-exercise, and post-exercise, respectively (p < 0.05). Similar increases were demonstrated in the control group for knee extensor (Table 3). Indeed, it was shown that maximal muscle strength in hip extensor, hip flexor, knee extensor and knee flexor, ankle plantar flexor, and dorsiflexor all increased after TKA surgery in a temporal fashion for both exercise and control group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, it was shown that there were no differences between the exercise and control group at all time point (Table 3). Meanwhile, we measured the muscular strength of lower extremity since previous studies have shown that knee extensor strength is closely correlated to functional performance, especially after TKA [20, 21].

In post-exercise KOOS assessment, KOOS total score was 78.7 ± 3.2 and 66.4 ± 4.1 for exercise and control group, respectively (p = 0.018). In the subcategorical assessment, these differences were observed in pain and ADL (p < 0.05) (Table 4). When comparison of KOOS was performed within the individual group, the temporal improvement was observed in symptoms, pain, ADL, QOL, and total score for both exercise and control group (p < 0.05) (Table 4). Interestingly, the sports subcategory was shown significantly improved from 17.1 ± 5.4 at pre-operative assessment to 48.3 ± 7.8 at post-exercise assessment in the exercise group (p < 0.05), while no such difference was shown in the control group.

In the SF-36 questionnaire which included physical and mental domains, it was shown a significant increase in the domains of GH, SF, and PCS at the mid-exercise point in the exercise group compared to the control group (p < 0.05) (Table 5). The circuit training efficiently improved the GH, SF, and PCS at the earlier time point. At the post-exercise assessment, only SF and BP were shown a significant increase in the exercise group compared with the control group (Table 5). When comparison was performed within the individual group in temporal fashion, it was shown that exercise improved all mental domains in mid-exercise assessment, and these improvements lasted to the post-exercise assessment, while no such improvement was observed in the control group. In the physical domain, it seemed both groups were shown improvement.

The most significant findings in the present study were that 24-week circuit training resulted in a decrease of pain and an increase of ADL and SF, along with an increase in stride length and excursion of knee ROM in gait analysis [8, 22, 23]. Second, the increases in all muscle strength were demonstrated in a temporal fashion in both exercise and control group [24]. Circuit training seemed not further increase the maximal muscle strength. Third, earlier recoveries in gait parameters, KOOS, and SF-36 at mid-exercise assessment for exercise group were well demonstrated. Although circuit training did not result in a further increase in maximal isokinetic muscle strength, it was postulated to enhance the muscle coordination which facilitated the performance of walking and daily function [25]. The improvement in pain after circuit training both in the KOOS and SF-36 further provided an important basis that knee can undergo unlimited swing and hence to increase the stride length [23].

In gait analysis, stride length and excursion of knee ROM in the exercise group were shown significant increases as compared to control group at the mid-exercise assessment, and these differences lasted to the post-exercise assessment (Table 2). It is well demonstrated that faster restoration of gait patterns in exercise group as compared to the control group. None of the subjects enrolled in the exercise group reported discomfort or injury, and none needed further management. This indicates that our circuit training intervention is safe for TKA patients and feasible to perform following the TKA surgery.

The function of quadriceps strength relied on maximal muscular strength and muscular coordination in TKA patients, which could be improved by post-operative progressive strengthening protocol [24, 26‐29]. Quadriceps weakness is a hallmark characteristic of knee osteoarthritis [24, 27, 30, 31]. Post-operatively, quadriceps strength was not comparable to their age-matched counterparts in the mid- or long-term follow-up [29]. Muscle strength recovery in those aging patients underwent TKA followed a temporary pattern [24]. The current study displayed a simultaneous trend in pain and muscle function recovery. Actually, as the pain improved 3 months after TKA, the patient was able to load their knees and hence improve the lower extremity muscle force. As the pain improved more, it was shown that lower leg muscle strength has a corresponding further increase. We have previously demonstrated the progress of both cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength by circuit training and 12-week circuit training in healthy middle-aged women (aged 45–75) [12]. However, the circuit training in the current study did not result in a further increase in the maximal isokinetic muscle strength. Two possibilities existed. First, the intensity of resistant training in the current study could be inadequate and would not result in a further increase as compared to the daily activities [23]. Second, the maximal strength has plateaued. Further study was warranted to delineate the mechanism underlying the findings in the current study. On the other hand, the muscle coordination and performance were improved by circuit training as shown in gait parameters. This finding paralleled literature that modified gait efficacy scale was improved by exercise [23]. In this laboratory study, it was further shown a 15% increase in stride length, accompanied by 10% increase in excursion of knee ROM during walking. These results provided a solid basis to explain the positive effect of exercise on gait function. It was possible that the decrease in pain and a more coordinated muscle function improved the gait function.

Decreased exercise adherence usually endangered the effect of exercise intervention [10, 32]. The motives for exercise participation among patients with knee OA was suggested mainly as positive outcome expectation [10]. Other factors such as social interaction and enjoyment of exercise have been described as important facilitators of exercise behavior [22, 32]. The present study demonstrated the improvement in social function which could result in exercise adherence to 80%, which was comparable in OA patient without TKA [10, 22]. Our results supported that a more balanced exercise program in patients with TKA to achieve a better exercise adherence and consequent improvement in gait and function [11]. Furthermore, the present study provided a quantitative data regarding the exercise prescription with efficacy and efficiency, which could be practiced for months. These results could be the basis for developing home exercise regimens.

Several limitations in this study must be acknowledged. First, the small sample size (34 patients) in this study resulted in under power to show a statistical difference between two groups in head-to-head comparisons. However, comparisons in repeated measure provided a better statistical power. Comparisons of repeated measurements in the same patient demonstrated the effect of exercise in a time sequence. Second, the study is limited to the Asian experience of knee arthroplasty. Third, this was a short-term study; thus, we were unable to assess the effect post-operative circuit training in long-term functional outcomes. The resistance training, though might be submaximal, in combination with aerobic exercise and stretching exercise help faster recovery in gait, functional score, and social function. Fourth, this study is a retrospective study. The results of circuit training on TKAs should be further proved by a prospective randomized clinical trial design. Fifth, there was a heterogeneous effect among the patients in the exercise. The previous investigation has shown that the carrier with polymorphism of monocarboxylate transporter 1 gene (A1470T) exhibits a worse lactate transport and influences the performance with high-intensity circuit training [33]. The genetic variance may be responsible for the heterogeneity of circuit training effect on the individual patients. The further study focused on the genetic test before training intervention was suggested.

Our post-operative circuit training intervention is safe and effective in improving and hastening the functional recovery after TKA surgery, even without enhancement of lower limb muscle strength. This circuit training intervention might be incorporated into the standard post-operative rehabilitation protocol for TKA patients. The ultimate influence of circuit training on TKA needs further long-term investigation.