After controlling for medical complexity, baseline function and duration of home health care episode, investigators found Medicare patients who had five or fewer home health care physical therapy visits after total knee arthroplasty had worse recovery regarding activities of daily living.

“Underutilization of home-based rehabilitation services after total knee replacement may limit early functional recovery,” Jason R. Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University who did the work when he was a PhD candidate at University of Colorado, told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Failure to recover physical function during this critical period may leave patients vulnerable to adverse events such as falls or hospitalization and ultimately, increase health care costs. Our study shows that even moderate utilization (six to nine visits) of therapy for patients who are homebound after hospital discharge is highly effective in improving independence with activities of daily living, like bathing and walking. Bottom line: If home health services are required after total knee replacement, appropriate utilization of rehabilitation may improve functional outcomes that are important for patients.”