Facilitators and barriers of rehabilitation exercise of patients with unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a qualitative study.

Zou, Qingsong; Yao, Taoqin; Wang, Lijun; Jiang, Wei; Qian, Mingyang; Hua, Wenzhe; Gu, Chunhong · Disabil Rehabil · 2026

other · Level V

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Abstract

This study aimed to deeply understand the facilitators and barriers of rehabilitation exercise in patients who underwent unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) during postoperative rehabilitation. A descriptive qualitative study was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted among 22 UKA patients from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China, following COREQ reporting guidelines. Transcripts were synthesized into three main themes (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) and eleven sub-themes, including postoperative symptoms, family/medical support, and perceived rehabilitation benefits. Postoperative rehabilitation involves physical and psychological challenges; medical staff should address identified facilitators/barriers <i>via</i> targeted guidance, psychological support, and optimized social support to improve rehabilitation compliance and patient recovery.