The Effectiveness of Resistance Training for Patients With Degenerative Arthritis After Surgery (Arthritis)

July 8, 2026 updated by: Su-Jung Liao, Tzu Chi University

The Effectiveness of Resistance Training for Patients With Degenerative Arthritis After Surgery- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease that significantly impacts mobility and disability in older adults. This pilot randomized controlled study aimed to examine the effects of a three-month resistance training program on lower limb muscular endurance, balance performance, pain, and quality of life among patients who had undergone unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group receiving resistance training or the control group receiving routine postoperative rehabilitation. The study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of these interventions to provide insights into incorporating resistance training into postoperative nursing care and recovery programs.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study employed an interventional, experimental design with a three-month follow-up to investigate the effectiveness of a progressive lower extremity resistance training program for patients with osteoarthritis following unilateral total joint arthroplasty. The study adhered to the CONSORT guidelines for reporting clinical trials.

Participants were randomly allocated into two groups:

  1. Control Group: Received routine postoperative rehabilitation care.

  2. Experimental Group: Received a progressive lower extremity resistance exercise program in addition to routine care. The program utilized 1-kg ankle weights and included seated knee extension, standing hamstring curls, and hip abduction. Training sessions were performed three times per week for three months, with the training volume progressively adjusted as follows:

    • 1st Postoperative Month: Performed on the non-operated limb only (2 sets per exercise).
    • 2nd Postoperative Month: Continued on the non-operated limb (3 sets) and introduced to the operated limb (2 sets).
    • 3rd Postoperative Month: Increased to 4 sets for the non-operated limb and 3 sets for the operated limb.

Each set consisted of 10 repetitions with a 1-minute rest between sets. Participants also received an illustrated exercise leaflet to enhance safety and adherence.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

24

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Taiwan
      • Hualien City, Taiwan, Taiwan, 97060
        • Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of osteoarthritis requiring first-time unilateral lower limb total joint arthroplasty
  • No planned surgery on the contralateral limb
  • Clear consciousness and ability to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese
  • Independent ambulation before surgery
  • Adequate vision and hearing (with correction if needed)
  • Community-dwelling status
  • Willing to participate in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to ambulate independently
  • Medical contraindications to exercise
  • Severe musculoskeletal conditions other than osteoarthritis
  • Same-day admission and surgery
  • Bilateral joint arthroplasty

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group
Participants received a progressive lower extremity resistance exercise program using 1-kg ankle weights (including seated knee extension, standing hamstring curls, and hip abduction) 3 times per week for 3 months, in addition to routine postoperative care.
Behavioral: Progressive Lower Extremity Resistance Exercise
A 3-month progressive resistance training program utilizing 1-kg ankle weights, including seated knee extension, standing hamstring curls, and hip abduction. Training sessions were performed 3 times per week, with progressive adjustments in training volume (sets and repetitions) for both operated and non-operated limbs over the 3-month period.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Participants received routine postoperative rehabilitation care.
Behavioral: Routine Postoperative Rehabilitation Care
Participants in the control group received routine postoperative rehabilitation care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lower Extremity Muscle Endurance
Time Frame: A higher number of completed stands means a better outcome (better lower extremity muscular endurance). To ensure safety for postoperative patients, a four-legged walker is placed in front of the chair during testing.
Assessed using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test. This test measures the total number of completed stands a participant can perform from a seated position to a full stand within 30 seconds.
A higher number of completed stands means a better outcome (better lower extremity muscular endurance). To ensure safety for postoperative patients, a four-legged walker is placed in front of the chair during testing.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Balance Performance
Time Frame: Shorter completion times (fewer seconds) mean a better outcome (better dynamic balance performance).
Assessed using the 2.44-Meter Timed Up-and-Go-Based Chair Rise and Obstacle Navigation Test, which measures the time (in seconds) taken to complete the functional mobility task.
Shorter completion times (fewer seconds) mean a better outcome (better dynamic balance performance).

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity
Time Frame: The score ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores mean a worse outcome (greater pain intensity). All assessments are conducted by the same researcher to ensure consistency.
Assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
The score ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores mean a worse outcome (greater pain intensity). All assessments are conducted by the same researcher to ensure consistency.
quality of life
Time Frame: This 28-item instrument covers physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental factors. The total score ranges from 28 to 112 ,Higher scores mean a better outcome (better perceived quality of life).
Assessed using the Taiwan version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF).
This 28-item instrument covers physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental factors. The total score ranges from 28 to 112 ,Higher scores mean a better outcome (better perceived quality of life).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Tzu Chi 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)

March 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 22, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

August 19, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB114-014-B

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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