The Effects of Dual-Task Exercises on Parameters After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a widely used surgical treatment method worldwide for advanced pain and functional loss resulting from osteoarthritis and other degenerative knee pathologies. The aim of TKA is to reduce pain, restore joint function, and improve quality of life. Although many patients experience a significant reduction in pain after surgery, balance problems, risk of falls, and functional limitations may persist in the postoperative period.In addition, loss of performance may occur in daily tasks requiring motor-cognitive interaction (e.g., talking while walking, changing direction while carrying objects).The dual-task paradigm describes exercises and assessments that require the simultaneous execution of both motor and cognitive tasks; in rehabilitation, it aims to improve daily living functions by targeting the simultaneous functioning of motor and cognitive systems.In the literature, studies on dual-task assessment and training in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and TKA are limited, and the findings are heterogeneous. Studies in elderly and osteoarthritic populations have reported that both single-task and dual-task training improve balance performance, but dual-task training does not always show a clear superiority compared to single-task training. These studies have generally focused on balance and gait parameters; evidence on how other clinically important variables such as pain, reaction time, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia) change with dual-task interventions is insufficient and inconsistent. Method: The effect size of the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index assessment parameter in the reference article is 1.02. It was calculated that a minimum of 20 individuals in total, 10 in each group, were required for a study with 80% power, using a type I error of α=0.05 and a type II error of β=0.20.After obtaining informed consent from all participants, their sociodemographic information will be recorded. Subsequently, their cognitive