Effects Of Supervised Sensorimotor Training Through Telerehabilitation Monitoring After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Effects Of Supervised Sensorimotor Training With And Without Lifestyle Modifications Through Telerehabilitation Monitoring After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) along with low back pain, is one of the most frequent rheumatic disorder in the Asian regions. Total Knee Arthroplasty is considered as a gold standard management strategy for relieving symptoms due to degenerative arthritis of knee. Rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty is an essential component among this population and plays a significant role in improving the functional performance and quality of life. However, access to rehabilitation, health care services and follow up is not always possible. One of the possible solution is the utilization of telerehabilitation technology to allow monitoring facilities be delivered to the patients from distance, so that follow up of a patient could be ensured. Secondly, a type of therapeutic exercise followed after knee replacement constitutes muscle strengthening, muscle stimulation with resistance exercises, sensorimotor training and telerehabilitation. Sensorimotor training improves central nervous system function for managing movement and appropriate muscular firing patterns for maintaining joint stability. An important component missing in the treatment regime of a knee replacement patient is the lifestyle modification program which is a combination of education, exercise and diet. So, the aim of current project is to evaluate the effects of supervised sensorimotor training with and without lifestyle modifications through telerehabilitation monitoring on joint position sense, balance, posture, muscle strength, knee joint function and quality of life after total knee arthroplasty. The telerehabilitation system would interaction between clinician at hospital and patients at home. A web based portal will be developed and then utilized to provide the user with personalized information such as guided video and audio instructions about each exercise. The digital rehabilitation solution is well established in developed nations. It is the need of hour to introduce technological advancements in Pakistan. Tele-rehabilitation should be incorporated as it will be helpful for the community and will reduce the dependence on human resources while ensuring better clinical outcomes as standard therapy. Intervention group will receive lifestyle modification manual and follow up will be ensured through telerehabilitation monitoring. Analysis will be done through SPSS 21.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Both male and female
2. Successful Total Knee Arthroplasty surgery
3. Ability to walk (with walking aid or unaided)
4. Aged between 45 to 75 years old,
5. Active knee flexion of 80 degree and active knee extension of -10 degree upon discharge
6. Availability of internet service in the residing area.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of health related medical conditions that could interfere with tests or the rehabilitation program
2. Neurological conditions that might affect balance
3. Inability to attend rehabilitation services, revised knee arthroplasty
4. Blindness and any condition incompatible with 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity