Introduction: Rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty is mainly focused on restoring range of motion in the knee and improving muscle strength of the knee flexors and extensors and the hip abductors and adductors, and to a lesser extent on improving balance and proprioception. Several authors suggest that rehabilitation should include task-oriented protocols focusing on improving balance, which is a key predictive factor for improved function in patients after total knee arthroplasty. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to review randomised controlled trials on the effect of balance-specific training on improving gait and balance in patients after total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Literature was searched in the electronic databases Cinahl, Pubmed and Sciencedirect. The following keywords and phrases were used: balance, knee arthroplasty, balance exercises, randomised controlled trials, function, and combinations thereof. Results: Five studies were included in the review that investigated the effect of balance-specific training on gait and balance improvement. Across all five studies, scores on tests assessing gait and balance improved in the experimental groups, where patients were performing functional training and additional balance-specific training. Additional balance-specific training in reviewed studies significantly effected experimental groups compared to control groups after training. Clinically significant differences between groups assessing gait were found in four studies. In tests and assessment protocols assessing balance, clinically significant differences between groups assessing were found in five studies. Discussion and conclusion: Improvements in gait and balance tests scores in the experimental suggests that additional balance exercises after total knee arthroplasty may improve gait and balance. It was found that integration of balance training with functional training can importantly effect on improving gait and balance in rehabilitation in patients after total knee arthroplasty.
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