Mani Izadi Sharifi

• Winther, Siri Bjørgen; Izadi, Mani; Husby, Vigdis Kvitland Schnell; Husby, Otto Schnell; Brobakken, Mathias Forsberg & Øhrn, Frank-David [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Preoperative physiotherapy and one-year patient-reported outcomes after primary total knee arthroplasty: a registry-based cohort study of 1,688 patients. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. ISSN 1650-1977. 58. doi: 10.2340/jrm.v58.44853. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: Preoperative physiotherapy in patients receiving primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to relieve pain, delay surgery, and improve postoperative recovery. This study investigates the change in PROMs and pain after primary TKA between patients who received preoperative physiotherapy (P) and those who did not (NP). Design: Registry-based cohort study with data from an institutional registry. Patients: 1,688 patients followed a standardized fast-track clinical pathway between August 2017 and January 2024 and were grouped in P or NP. Methods: Primary outcome was KOOS-PS at 2 months and 1 year postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included pain, the Forgotten Joint Score, and EQ-5d-5L. Two anchor questions related to self-perceived knee function and willingness to have the surgery again at 12 months’ follow-up were also evaluated. Results: The model estimate demonstrated no significant between-group difference in KOOS-PS at 2 months (1.12 points; p = 0.079) or 1-year follow-up (1.25 points; p = 0.097). Visual inspection of descriptive plots showed that NP patients had higher KOOS-PS, less pain, and better joint score and quality of life at all time points. At 12 months’ follow-up, both groups had similar responses to the anchor questions. Conclusion: After adjustment for baseline differences, no between-group differences in postoperative self-reported physical function were observed; consistently lower scores in the physiotherapy group may reflect systematic preoperative differences between groups.

• Izadi, Mani; Tøien, Tiril; Øhrn, Frank-David; Husby, Otto Schnell; Husby, Vigdis Kvitland Schnell & Winther, Siri Bjørgen [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2026). Effects of preoperative maximal strength training on muscle strength and function in total knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. ISSN 1877-0657. 69(2). doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2025.102067. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The efficacy of prehabilitation through preoperative strength training for individuals undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains inconclusive. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of maximal strength training (MST) before operation on muscle strength and physical function 3 weeks following TKA. Methods: 48 individuals scheduled for fast-track unilateral primary TKA were randomized to MST (n = 24), performing 4 sets at 4 repetition maximum in seated leg press 3 times per week for 8 weeks, or control usual care (CON, n = 24). The primary outcome was bilateral leg press maximal strength. Secondary outcomes were performance-based physical function, including 10-step stair climbing, 30 s sit-to-stand, 40 m fast-paced walking, and unipedal stance tests, and self-reported physical function as knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score-physical function short form (KOOS-PS), European quality of life 5 dimension, 5 Level, and forgotten joint score. Results: MST improved bilateral leg press 1RM relative to body weight after intervention (mean change 0.45, P < 0.0001), and there were between-group differences in the delta changes from baseline to preoperation (mean difference 0.43, P < 0.0001) and postoperation (mean difference 0.27, P < 0.001), favoring MST. MST also led to better maintenance of postoperative stair climbing (mean difference −3.38 s, P = 0.0013). Although the MST group experienced a significant preoperative improvement in sit-to-stand (mean change 2 repetitions, P = 0.0019), walking ability (mean change −2.28 s, P < 0.001), and KOOS-PS (mean change 8, P < 0.0001), these effects did not extend to postoperative outcomes. Conclusions: The findings indicate that preoperative MST is safe and effective in improving muscle strength and preserving stair-climbing ability for individuals undergoing TKA, positioning MST as a pragmatic prehabilitation strategy. Clinical trial registration: NCT05892133.

• Izadi, Mani; Tøien, Tiril; Øhrn, Frank-David; Husby, Otto Schnell; Husby, Vigdis Kvitland Schnell & Winther, Siri Bjørgen [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). Muscle strength is a key predictor of physical function in advanced knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. ISSN 2468-8630. 78(August), p. 1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103339. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Skeletal muscle strength of the lower limbs is negatively impacted in advanced knee osteoarthritis. However, its role in predicting physical function of these patients remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate hierarchical linear regression associations between lower limbs' maximal muscle strength, rate of force development and physical function in 50 patients (age: 65 ± 8 years; 22 males and 28 females; and BMI: 31 ± 5 kg/m2) with advanced knee osteoarthritis. Results revealed that leg press maximal strength and leg extension maximum voluntary contraction were associated with sit-to-stand and stair climbing performance (all p < 0.001) and accounted for variances of 29 % and 38 % in 30-s sit-to-stand and 37 % and 24 % in stair climbing performance, respectively. Leg press maximal strength and leg extension maximum voluntary contraction were also associated with Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS) (both p = 0.041), each accounting for 7 % of the variance. Similarly, rate of force development was associated with 30-s sit-to-stand (p < 0.001) and stair climbing performance (p = 0.05), explaining 22 % and 6 % of additional variances, respectively. No association was observed between measures of muscle strength and 40 m fast-paced walking. The present study highlights maximal muscle strength, and in part rate of force development, as powerful predictors of physical function in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis and may be used as simple, valuable measures when evaluating patients’ physical function.

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• Brobakken, Mathias Forsberg; Sherman, Ronan Aron; Berg, Ole Kristian; Izadi, Mani; Tøien, Tiril Hoksnes & Unhjem, Runar Jakobsen [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Neuromuscular benefits persist into very old age in strength-trained octogenarian master athletes: A 10-year follow-up study. Book of abstracts 31st annual congress of the European College of Sport Science. Full text in Research Archive

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