# Cognitive representation of gait: differences in memory structures between individuals after total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty

## TL;DR

This study found that people who had hip replacement surgery showed different mental representations of gait compared to those who had knee replacement and healthy individuals.

## Contribution

The study introduces new insights into cognitive gait representation differences after hip versus knee arthroplasty.

## Key findings

- THA patients showed functional differences in gait-specific cognitive representation compared to TKA and control groups.
- Cognitive gait representation after hip replacement reflects joint function-specific deviations.
- Focusing on cognitive gait recovery may improve rehabilitation outcomes for hip replacement patients.

## Abstract

The objective was to examine differences in the gait-specific cognitive representation structures between individuals after total knee- (TKA) and after total hip-joint arthroplasty (THA). The cognitive representation structure was compared between three groups: 1. three months after TKA (n = 12), 2. three months after THA (n = 12), and 3. healthy control group (CG) (n = 12) using the structural dimensional analysis of mental representation (SDA-M). Additionally, perceived joint function was rated by either the KOOS, JR. or HOOS, JR. Mean distribution of perceived joint function was not significantly different between the TKA (60.35 ± 11.2) and THA group (68.01 ± 13.8) (t = − 1.425; p = .173). In the cognitive representation structure, the THA group exhibited functional differences from the TKA group and control group, both of which showed a functional structure. Three months after hip joint replacement the gait-specific cognitive representation structure seems to reflect joint function-specific deviations. Therefore, focussing on functional recovery of cognitive gait representation may facilitate gait rehabilitation in individuals after hip replacement.