ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2026
Cryotherapy combined with standard rehabilitation and early functional recovery after knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundPostoperative pain, swelling, and limited mobility are major barriers to early functional recovery after knee arthroplasty. Cryotherapy is widely used during postoperative rehabilitation, but evidence regarding its role when combined with standard rehabilitation remains inconsistent. This study examined whether the addition of cryotherapy to a standard rehabilitation protocol was associated with improved early postoperative outcomes after knee arthroplasty.
methodsThis retrospective, non-randomized cohort study included 100 patients who underwent primary knee arthroplasty between April and July 2024. Patients were allocated to a cryotherapy group (n = 58) or a control group (n = 42) receiving standard rehabilitation alone, based on clinical practice patterns and patient preference. Primary outcomes included Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, range of motion, and knee circumference. Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, opioid consumption, length of hospital stay, complications, and patient satisfaction.
resultsAt 1 week postoperatively, the cryotherapy group had higher HSS scores (P < 0.001), greater knee flexion (P = 0.006), less extension deficit (P = 0.005), and smaller knee circumference (P = 0.003) than the control group. These between-group differences remained significant at 2 weeks (all P < 0.05) but were no longer significant at 6 weeks. VAS pain scores were lower in the cryotherapy group at 1 week (P < 0.001) and 2 weeks (P < 0.001). The cryotherapy group also used fewer opioid analgesics in the first 48 h (P < 0.001), had shorter hospital stays (P = 0.001), and reported higher patient satisfaction at 6 weeks (P = 0.003). No significant between-group difference in complications was observed (P = 0.121), and no cold-related adverse events were reported.
conclusionsCryotherapy combined with standard rehabilitation was associated with better early postoperative recovery after knee arthroplasty, particularly during the first 2 postoperative weeks. Cryotherapy may serve as a practical adjunct in early postoperative rehabilitation, although further prospective studies are needed to confirm its clinical benefit.
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