Improving Function After Knee Arthroplasty With Weight-Bearing Biofeedback

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if rehabilitation using weight-bearing biofeedback training following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is more effective than standard rehabilitation methods in promoting weight-bearing symmetry through the lower limbs during functional activities such as sit-to-stand transfers and walking. Secondary outcomes of interest include functional measures and internal moment at the hip, knee, and ankle joints during sit-to-stand and walking.

Conditions

• Arthropathy of Knee Joint

Interventions

OTHER

Weight-bearing biofeedback exercise

Patients in the experimental group completed the same standard of care rehabilitation program as the control group. Thus, the experimental intervention was in addition to the standard intervention. Upon discharge to home, patients in the RELOAD group began the weight bearing (WB) biofeedback phase of the study. Patients participated in two 30-minute training sessions/week with a physical therapist for a total of 6 weeks, focusing on promoting WB symmetry using a progressive series of activities adapted to video games.

OTHER

Standard of care exercise

Standard inpatient rehabilitation began on post-operative day 1 and lasted for an average of 3.2 days. After hospital discharge, two weeks of home rehabilitation (6 visits) were provided by physical therapists. Patients progressed to outpatient rehabilitation, consisting of 4 weeks of treatment. As such, 6 weeks of rehabilitation following hospital discharge was implemented for both groups.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc.

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  collaborator NIH

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Colorado, Denver

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cory L Christiansen, PT, PhD · University of Colorado, Denver

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-01-31

Primary Completion

2012-12-31

Completion

2012-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations