EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POST-SURGICAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ON FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AFTER KNEE AND HIP JOINT SURGERIES IN PAKISTAN

Background: Postoperative rehabilitation is a vital component in the recovery process after total knee and hip joint replacement surgeries. In Pakistan, limited data exists regarding the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs on functional outcomes following such procedures. Objective: To assess rehabilitation outcomes and functional recovery among patients undergoing knee and hip joint surgeries in the Lahore region of Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted over eight months in tertiary care hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Lahore. A total of 422 patients who underwent either total knee or hip replacement and completed at least four weeks of structured rehabilitation were enrolled. Functional outcomes were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. Results: The mean age of participants was 62.3 ± 8.4 years, with 61.1% undergoing knee and 38.9% undergoing hip replacement. The average WOMAC total score was 40.9 ± 9.1, indicating moderate functional improvement. TUG test times averaged 13.2 ± 2.8 seconds for knee and 12.6 ± 2.4 seconds for hip replacement groups, within normal functional limits. Longer rehabilitation duration was significantly associated with better WOMAC scores (p < 0.001), and a moderate negative correlation was observed between weeks of rehabilitation and total WOMAC scores (r = –0.48, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Structured and prolonged rehabilitation programs significantly improve functional recovery in post-surgical knee and hip joint patients. These findings emphasize the need to integrate accessible rehabilitation into routine postoperative care across Pakistan.