The number of Total Knee Arthroplasty surgeries continues to grow each year. Currently, there is a lack of objective data that supports the effectiveness of combining aquatic physical therapy with land therapy verses land therapy alone. This Randomized Clinical Trial was performed to determine the effectiveness of combining aquatic physical therapy with land based therapy verses solely land therapy in changing of pain, range of motion, swelling and function in 30 patients that had undergone unilateral total knee arthroplasty. 30 subjects were randomly assigned to either the integrated (Water & Land) group, or the control (Land) group (15 subjects in each group). Range of motion was measured using a goniometer with the subject in a supine position. Pain was assessed using the NPRS (numeric pain rating scale). Swelling was evaluated using a non-elastic tape measure. Function was measured using the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months. Individual participating in the integrated group demonstrated greater improvement in active and passive knee flexion ROM, swelling, pain, and function at 6 weeks. Additionally, the integrated group presented with a greater carryover of function at 6 months. Rick McAvoy is the Aquatic Program Coordinator & Physical Therapist at Rehab 3 at Marshbrook, Center for Aquatics in Somersworth, New Hampshire. He is responsible for coordination of all aspects of aquatic therapy programming for a large orthopedic and sports medicine clinic. He oversees all pool operations from marketing, maintenance, clinical supervision of aquatic team, as well as all transitional aquatic programming. Mr. McAvoy’s prior experience includes Aquatic Program Director and Physical Therapist at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Concord, NH and Professor of Hydrotherapy at Northeast Institute of Whole Health at New Hampshire Technical College. He has presented numerous lectures and courses at university, national and international levels over the past 10 years in the areas of orthopedic aquatic therapy and aquatic conditioning and sports medicine. Mr. MaAvoy has designed two aquatic therapy pools for outpatient facilities in New Hampshire as well as various aquatic therapy exercise equipment currently in the market. He is certified as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Certified Pool Operator®, Burdenko and Master Burdenko Instructor. He is currently working on his doctorate of physical therapy at Franklin Pierce College in Concord, NH.
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