BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the efficacy of Tuina rehabilitation on the patients with rheumatoid arthritis after total knee arthroplasty and the mechanism underlying Tuina rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of early Tuina comprehensive rehabilitation therapy on rheumatoid arthritis patients after total knee arthroplasty, in order to provide some objective evidences for clinical rehabilitation treatment. METHODS: Sixty-six rheumatoid arthritis patients after total knee arthroplasty were equally divided into two groups control group and Tuina group. The patients in the control group underwent continuous passive motion training after replacement, and the patients in the Tuina group underwent continuous passive motion training combined with Tuina rehabilitation. The effect of Tuina comprehensive rehabilitation was observed through Hospital for Special Surgery system and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Comparison of the Hospital for Special Surgery score among groups at 3 months after replacement found that the function (p = 0.020), muscle strength (p = 0.020), stability (p = 0.011) and total scores (p = 0.019) were improved, and there were significant differences when compared with those before treatment (p < 0.05). Comparison of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores among groups at 3 months after replacement found that the emotional health score (p = 0.003) and total health score (p = 0.008) were significantly improved, and there were significant differences when compared with those before treatment (p < 0.05). Early Tuina rehabilitation could facilitate function restoration and improve strength, stability, emotional health and total health for the rheumatoid arthritis patients after total knee arthroplasty.

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