Remote Rehabilitation With Knee Brace for Individuals With Degenerative Joint Disease

MDH sp. z o.o.36 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to learn how well remote rehabilitation and offloading the inner part of the knee joint using a custom-made knee brace work as non-surgical treatments for people with unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. The main question it aims to answer is: Does the remote rehabilitation system improve symptoms and function in people with knee osteoarthritis? Researchers will compare three groups of participants to see how different types of knee braces and rehabilitation methods affect outcomes: Group A will use a custom-made knee brace connected to a mobile app and motion sensors. Group B will use a custom-made knee brace daily and perform prescribed exercises. Group C will use a standard off-the-shelf functional knee brace daily and perform the same prescribed exercises. Participants will: Wear their assigned brace for 6 months Complete surveys (VAS, KOOS, and Laitinen) Have their knee range of motion and body weight measured

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)Joint Diseases Knee Brace

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 45 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (medial compartment), Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-III, confirmed by imaging; affecting one lower limb (with predominant symptoms in either the right or left leg) * Age between 45 and 75 years * Preserved passive knee extension; flexion contracture of up to 20 degrees of extension deficit is acceptable * Signed informed consent for participation in the clinical investigation Exclusion Criteria: * Bicompartmental knee osteoarthritis with similar symptom severity in both compartments * Neurological disorders * Rheumatoid arthritis * Coexisting dysfunctions of the hip and/or ankle joint of the affected limb * Ligament injuries (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL) and/or meniscus injuries (medial or lateral) causing significant joint instability (moderate instability due to ligament insufficiency, common in osteoarthritis, is not excluded) * Bone fractures * Sensory disturbances in the lower limbs * Passive knee extension deficit greater than 20 degrees * Major surgical procedures involving the knee joint within the last 6 months * Lack of informed consent and/or inability to establish reliable verbal-logical communication with the participant * Other medical conditions preventing independent application of the brace and/or use of the mobile application

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

KOOS Questionnaire (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)

The KOOS questionnaire is a validated and internationally recognized self-reported tool, officially translated into Polish, used to assess knee-related symptoms. It consists of five subscales: pain, knee stiffness, daily living function, sports and recreational activity, and knee-related quality of life. The maximum score of 100 indicates no symptoms or limitations, while a score of 0 indicates extreme symptom severity.

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

VAS Scale (Visual Analog Scale)

A subjective scale for evaluating pain intensity. This 10-point scale measures how strong the participant's pain is, where 1 means no pain and 10 means unbearable pain.

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Laitinen Scale

A subjective, point-based tool assessing pain based on four features: intensity, frequency, use of pain medication, and physical activity limitation. Each category is scored from 0 to 4, where 0 means no issue, and 4 indicates the most severe problem.

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Lower Limb Ortogram

Anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of both lower limbs taken in a standing position, with feet hip-width apart and in a neutral position. Measurements include the angle between the mechanical axis of the femur and tibia, and the medial joint space width (JSW) of the knee \[mm\].

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Range of Motion (ROM) of the Knee Joint

Angular measurement of the knee's flexion and extension using an electronic goniometer. For flexion: the patient lies on their back with legs extended; the goniometer axis is placed at the lateral femoral epicondyle, with the fixed arm aligned with the greater trochanter and the movable arm following the lateral malleolus as the patient actively bends the knee. For extension: the patient lies face down with legs bent at the knees, positioned so that the knees extend beyond the edge of the examination table to allow full extension or hyperextension. Goniometer placement follows the same protocol. Measurements are taken for both limbs.

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Custom Satisfaction Questionnaire

A proprietary survey assessing patient satisfaction with the telerehabilitation program, as well as comfort and perceived effectiveness of the cage-type knee brace used in the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The survey is based on a 5-point scale, where 1 represents a poor outcome, 5 indicates an excellent result, and 3 denotes no change.

Time frame: At the final visit (6 months)

Secondary Outcomes

BMI (Body Mass Index)

BMI is calculated as weight \[kg\] divided by height squared \[m²\]. It is considered a significant risk factor in the severity and progression of knee osteoarthritis. A simplified BMI classification is used in this study: \<18.5 - underweight; 18.5-24.99 - normal; \>24.99 - overweight

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Lower Limb Circumference Measurements

Circumference measurements (in cm) of the thigh (10 cm above mid-patella), knee (at mid-patella), and calf (15 cm below mid-patella) on both braced and non-braced limb; used for asymmetry assessment, monitoring changes over time, and brace sizing.

Time frame: At first and final visit (6 months)

Remote Rehabilitation With Knee Brace for Individuals With Degenerative Joint Disease

Overview

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes