Knee functions and rehabilitation 12 months after knee replacement
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can task-orientated rehabilitation improve knee function in patients 12 months after knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis?
IRAS ID
162108
Contact name
Helen L. Birch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common and debilitating disease, which at the end stage requires joint replacement. Even though the surgical procedure may have been successful, patient satisfaction is much less for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) than for total hip arthroplasty (THA). The likely potential for improvement has not been fully explored.
Patient satisfaction and perceived function is measured by The Oxford Knee Score (OKS) questionnaire, a subjective measurement based on daily activities. Patients’ gait assessment gives objective functional outcome. This study proposes that lower patient satisfaction results from reduced functional mobility, which is the result of impaired gait following TKA. Understanding the relationship between gait, mobility and satisfaction in patients with knee OA is of significant importance, so that better rehabilitation can be designed and implemented.
Knee clinic patients (12 months after TKA) will be assessed using the OKS questionnaire, and their gait will be assessed in the clinic at the same time using inertial movement units (IMU), until 24 patients with poor outcome following TKA are selected for task-orientated rehabilitation (TOR). A 4-week daily home activities programme will be prescribed. Their satisfaction and gait will be reassessed after this 4 weeks rehabilitation programme.
A sub-set (5 patients) and 5 age-matched controls will be measured on the instrumented treadmill, in the Motor Learning Laboratory, RNOH, Stanmore.
The combination of these data will allow us to investigate whether a rehabilitation programme directed to improvement of the quality of gait can enhance overall mobility and patient satisfaction after TKA. The information will be of benefit in making the most complete assessment and offering more effective rehabilitation of TKA patients. Specific task-orientated rehabilitation may significantly improve gait quality, and hold great promise for improved outcome after TKA.REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2002
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion