Rehabilitation Protocols Following Post-Arthroscopy for Knee Injuries and Osteoarthritis in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To explore knee arthroscopy rehabilitation practices among physical therapists across Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among physical therapists across Pakistan. A total of 69 responses fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were approved for analysis after obtaining informed consent. Participants were selected based on their experience in knee rehabilitation after arthroscopy, using a self-developed validated questionnaire (α = 0.92). Data analysis was done on SPSS focused on descriptive statistics to identify trends and challenges in rehabilitation practices. Results: Most respondents held either basic (52.4%) or postgraduate degrees (47.67%) with 34.8% having over five years of experience. Arthroscopy was commonly advised for Kellgren and Lawrance grade III knee osteoarthritis, with an anterior approach being the preferred surgical technique. Postoperatively, 53.6% of surgeons recommended starting physical therapy on day one, focusing on reducing swelling and increasing range of motion, with a preference for active exercises (31.9%) and varied preferences for exercise techniques and outcome measures. Conclusion: This study identified key patterns in rehabilitation practices for knee arthroscopy among physical therapists in Pakistan. It reported lack of standardized protocols of rehabilitation that are necessary to improve recovery outcomes.