The effects of task complexity on brake response time before and after primary right total knee arthroplasty

Marques CJ, Cabri J, Barreiros J, Carita AI, Friesecke C, Loehr JF. The effects of task complexity on brake response time before and after primary right total knee arthroplasty.

Objective

To study the effects of an increase in task complexity on brake response time (BRT) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Design

A prospective repeated-measures design was used. The measurements took place 1 day before and 10 and 30 days after surgery.

Setting

Clinic.

Participants

The data of patients (N=21) who were admitted for primary total arthroplasty of the right knee were pooled for analysis.

Interventions

On each measurement day patients performed 5 practice and 10 test trials for 2 tasks (1 simple, 1 complex) in a car simulator. Task complexity was increased by adding a second movement to the first task performed.

Main Outcome Measures

BRT, reaction time (RT), and movement time were assessed.

Results

An increase in task complexity increased BRT, RT, and movement time at all measurement times. Right TKA increased BRT by increasing movement time. Thirty days after surgery BRT was no longer increased compared with preoperative values in both tasks.

Conclusions

Task complexity consistently increased BRT and its components. The effects of task complexity remained constant throughout the 3 measurements. After right TKA, we suggest patients should be advised to wait 30 days after surgery before resuming driving.