Efficacy of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercise Programme in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty

December 7, 2025 updated by: Fatih Ozden, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Efficacy of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercise Programme Versus Usual Care in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This study was planned to investigate the effectiveness of usual care and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise program in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty surgery. It is aimed to evaluate pain intensity, disability level, proprioception, kinesiophobia, balance, range of motion and functional status of the patients. The study will be conducted with volunteer patients who are followed up by the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Fethiye State Hospital and who have undergone total knee arthroplasty surgery. The evaluations will be performed in the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Fethiye State Hospital. It is aimed to evaluate at least 32 patients for the study. The first evaluation will be performed 6 weeks post-operatively and the second evaluation will be performed 2 months after the treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Having undergone unilateral total knee arthroplasty surgery and being 6 weeks postoperative
  • Participate in all necessary follow-up assessments
  • 60 years of age or older
  • Understand simple commands
  • Signing the consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A previous history of total knee arthroplasty
  • Presence of revision surgery
  • Presence of severe osteoarthritis in the contralateral knee
  • Severe acute metabolic neuromuscular and cardiovascular diseases
  • Extreme obesity (bki>35)
  • Presence of malignancy
  • Have any other orthopedic or neurological problem that may affect treatment and assessments
  • Situations that prevent communication
  • Lack of cooperation during the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention Group
In addition to the program given to the control group, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise will be given to the study group as previously described (Gstoettner et al., 2011). These applications will be applied to the patients for 8 weeks, 2 days a week in the clinical environment after the initial evaluation. In addition, both groups will be told that they can contact the researcher when requested.
Other: Rehabilitation
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise will be given to the study group as previously described (Gstoettner et al., 2011). These applications will be applied to the patients for 8 weeks, 2 days a week in the clinical environment after the initial evaluation. In addition, both groups will be told that they can contact the researcher when requested.
Active Comparator: Control Group
The control group will receive the usual post-operative care of stretching lower extremity strengthening balance exercises activities of daily living recommendations.
Other: Rehabilitation
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise will be given to the study group as previously described (Gstoettner et al., 2011). These applications will be applied to the patients for 8 weeks, 2 days a week in the clinical environment after the initial evaluation. In addition, both groups will be told that they can contact the researcher when requested.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline VAS at 8 weeks
On a 10 cm straight line or numeric scale, the patient is asked to mark the pain they feel (0: no pain, 10: excruciating pain).
Change from Baseline VAS at 8 weeks
Western-Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline WOMAC at 8 weeks
Functionality level in the patient group with knee OA was measured using WOMAC. WOMAC consists of 3 main headings: pain intensity, stiffness and physical function. The individuals included in the study are asked to score each item between 0 (no pain, stiffness, difficulty) and 5 (very severe pain, stiffness, difficulty). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 96 (complete disability).
Change from Baseline WOMAC at 8 weeks
Knee Joint Proprioception Measurement
Time Frame: Change from Baseline Knee Joint Proprioception Measurement at 8 weeks
The inclinometer is placed distal to the tibial tuberosity. In full knee extension, the patient is asked to perform a single leg squat with eyes closed or unable to see the leg being tested. He/she is allowed to support with his/her hands to prevent loss of balance. When the knee flexion angle of 30° is reached, the patient is asked to stop and stay at this point for 5 seconds. Then return to full knee extension. This movement is repeated 3 times. This time, without any stop command, the patient is asked to reach the same 30° knee flexion angle as in the previous exercises. This application is also repeated 3 times. The "absolute angle difference", which is the difference between the targeted angle in each repetition and the angle realized by the patient, is recorded. The arithmetic mean of the 3 repetitions' absolute angle difference is recorded as the result data.
Change from Baseline Knee Joint Proprioception Measurement at 8 weeks
Modified Four Square Step Test (mFSST)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline mFSST at 8 weeks
A suitable background is divided into four identical squares with a "+" shaped line using tape. The squares are numbered with numbers between 1-4 in a clockwise direction and this sequence is explained to the participant. The patient steps from the starting point to squares 1,2,3 and 4 in a way that the direction remains the same and without stepping on the lines. The test is terminated when the last foot contact is interrupted at square 4. The time elapsed during the main measurement is recorded with a stopwatch.
Change from Baseline mFSST at 8 weeks
Figure 8 Walking Test (F8WT)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline F8WT at 8 weeks
Participants are instructed to stand at the midpoint between two cones (1.52 m apart) and look at one of the cones. Participants are asked to walk in a circle of 8 around the cones at a comfortable speed and direction of their choice. The stopwatch is stopped while returning to the starting point. The elapsed time and the number of steps taken are recorded.
Change from Baseline F8WT at 8 weeks
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline BBS at 8 weeks
The 14 items in the scale assess static sitting and standing balance as well as expected balance during activities. Scoring is done on a 5-point scale that takes into account whether the patient can perform the task safely and independently and is usually based on a specific time interval. Normal performances are rated from 0 (unable to perform) to 4 points (normal performance). Scores on individual items are summed for a total score, with a maximum score of 56 points.
Change from Baseline BBS at 8 weeks
Activity Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline ABC at 8 weeks
This scale includes 16 tasks related to indoor and outdoor activities of daily living to measure balance confidence in older people with various levels of function. Scores for each question range from 0% (no confidence) to 100% (full confidence). Higher scores indicate greater confidence.
Change from Baseline ABC at 8 weeks
Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)
Time Frame: Change from Baseline TSK at 8 weeks
The questionnaire is a 17-item scale developed to measure fear of movement/reinjury. The normal score range is between 17 and 68.
Change from Baseline TSK at 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Fatih Özden, PhD, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 8, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 14, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 14, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 21, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 15, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 7, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • TDAPNF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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