Geriatric Nursing · Jan 21, 2026

Hiking poles exercise enhances strength, mobility, and quality of life in elderly patients undergoing TKA: A randomized controlled trial

By Yu-Hua C, Chang-Chin W, Yi-Ting H et al.

AIMS: This study investigated the effects of hiking poles exercise on lower extremity muscle strength, knee range of motion, and quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled trial design. METHODS: Totally, 88 patients undergoing TKA were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG; n = 44) or control group (CG; n = 44). In this single-blinded study, the data collectors were blinded to group assignment. The CG received standard rehabilitation guidance, whereas the IG participated in hiking poles exercise, with two sessions each conducted 1 day before surgery and before discharge. Data were collected at four time points: pre-surgery, 1 week, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery. Evaluation tools included the 30-second chair stand test (30CST), knee range of motion measurements, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). RESULTS: The IG demonstrated significantly higher performance in the 30CST than the CG at 6 and 12 weeks post-surgery. Additionally, the average KOOS score for QoL was significantly higher in the IG than in the CG at 12 weeks post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Hiking poles exercise effectively enhances lower extremity muscle strength, knee range of motion, and QoL in patients following TKA. IMPACT: This study demonstrates that hiking poles exercise enhances postoperative recovery, offering a cost-effective and practical rehabilitation method. It influences clinical practices by providing a viable approach to improve recovery outcomes in elderly TKA patients. CLINICAL TRIAL: This randomized controlled trial effectively evaluates hiking poles exercise, highlighting its positive impact on postoperative outcomes. Patient or Public Contribution: The study supports hiking poles exercise as beneficial for TKA patients, recommending its broader implementation to enhance muscle strength, mobility, and QoL in clinical settings.

doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2025.103781PubMed 41570573Interventions