Feasibility of TRAK to support Physio in ACL rehabilitation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing the feasibility of TRAK an eHealth intervention to support Physiotherapy rehabilitation for patients following Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstructive surgery
IRAS ID
215998
Contact name
Emma Dunphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is common, especially in the active population. In defining the problem of ACL rehabilitation, this study draws from the knowledge that improved self-care, strength, and fitness are associated with better outcomes. Traditional rehabilitation involves regular physiotherapy but there is much variation in how services are provided. Additionally, current rehabilitation models in the National Health Service (NHS) struggle with catering to large volumes of patients and the lengthy time span over which rehabilitation is delivered. \nThe use of eHealth (the Internet in health care) has been successful at delivering behaviour change to a number of diverse patient groups. In physiotherapy, problems such as exercise compliance, exercise technique, and managing a broad program of rehabilitation and advice can be challenging. An eHealth intervention called TRAK to support self-management and behaviour change has been developed by patients and clinicians as a tool to support ACL rehabilitation with personalized plans, prompts, and logs to help adherence and videos and instructions to improve quality and address queries. The patients have their own log-ins and can email their physiotherapist through the website. Patients’ exercise programs and duration of treatment are still based on individual needs, but use of the website may offer improved self-management when they are doing their rehabilitation programme in between appointments. \n\nThis is a feasibility study to establish recruitment, retention, sample size estimates, and practicality of collecting outcome measures to inform a future trial comparing the TRAK intervention, which has been rigorously designed to address the challenges of ACL rehabilitation, to usual care. The study will provide essential information to support the development and powering of a future clinical trial of eHealth and physiotherapy for patients with ACL reconstruction in the NHS.\n\n
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0403
Date of REC Opinion
19 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion