By Steve Siegel, President, ROM Technologies, Inc. (ROMTech)
LinkedIn: Steve S.
LinkedIn: ROM Technologies, Inc.
As Americans’ life expectancy increases, so does their likelihood of undergoing major surgery at some point in their lives. Knee replacement surgery, or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is poised for a significant surge, projected to increase from 790,000 surgeries per year to 3.48 million by 2030.
With TKA rapidly gaining traction as a national health concern, the demand for reliable and effective physical therapy has never been greater. However, there is a real risk that in-person rehabilitation — the traditional post-surgery care for orthopedic procedures—may not be equipped to handle the expected surge in TKAs over the next few years.
The limits of in-person rehabilitation
About 20% of patients endure chronic pain after knee surgery. This is not an indictment to the quality of our country’s physical therapists, but rather underscores the systemic limitations of the current in-person approach to rehabilitation.
It is ironic and challenging for TKA patients to have to travel to meet with specialists to continue their recovery journey. Not all patients have the means or diligence to meet with their physical therapists. Approximately 30% of patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement do not regularly follow up with a healthcare practitioner. Possibly lacking motivation and guidance due to the difficulty of accessing in-person therapy, 69.8% of TKA patients have admitted that they do not engage in recommended physical, consequently diminishing the potential effectiveness of their treatment. The results are clear; patient dissatisfaction with TKA is pervasive, with 63.4% of patients unhappy with their surgery due to pain and/or reduced motor function.
Acknowledging that TKA patients critically rely on consistent therapy sessions and follow-ups for a full recovery, orthopedic specialists and physical therapists have long advocated for tools that better serve patients and monitor their progress after discharge.
Revolutionizing knee surgery with teletherapy
AI-assisted devices of this nature represent the next stage in the evolution of clinician-controlled teletherapy for knee-related conditions by providing a care right where patients can easily access it. Optimized for home use, these systems can walk patients through all aspects of recovery, including suggesting therapeutic movements to perform based on real-time motion detection, tracking key health metrics, and sharing real-time patient data with clinical teams. Telemedicine features round out the offering, enabling healthcare practitioners to spot any non-optimum situations and communicate directly with the patient to discuss progress, allowing everyone to take greater responsibility for their rehab and achieve superior outcomes.
In short, clinician-controlled teletherapy devices allow for the same expert guidance usually associated with conventional physical therapy, but in a more frequent, more accessible and affordable manner.
Research on next-gen teletherapy as an alternative to face-to-face physical therapy for TKA rehabilitation has been promising. To date, the vast majority of reputable studies conducted on this topic have concluded that teletherapy results in equal or superior recovery outcomes. Teletherapy has been shown to result in significantly higher extension range (p < 0.00001) and quadriceps strength (p = 0.0002) than face-to-face rehabilitation across TKA patients. This improved care consequently leads to fewer rehospitalizations and shorter visits with specialists when compared to patients following the traditional pathway.
The secret of clinician-controlled teletherapy’s effectiveness lies in the ease with which patients progress is automatically communicated to their healthcare provider well in advance of regular follow-ups. Telemedicine patients demonstrate significantly higher adherence to expert intervention and physical activity regimens compared to other approaches. Teletherapy that is connected to their provider creates accountability and motivates patients to take greater responsibility and dedicate more effort in their road to recovery.
The future of knee replacement rehabilitation is here
With an exponential increase of TKAs on the horizon, it is imperative to ensure that future patients receive the best possible care. Traditional physical therapy is likely to buckle under the strain, mostly due to the sheer demand plus the tendency of TKA patients to neglect their recovery amidst logistical challenges. Without proper oversight and routine check-ins, patients lose motivation and become discontent with their treatment.
AI-assisted plus clinician-controlled teletherapy devices solve this issue by providing TKA patients with personalized, adaptive therapeutic mobility training and a convenient means of communication with their healthcare provider. By simplifying home rehabilitation and increasing engagement, clinician-controlled teletherapy often results in more compliant and diligent patients than in-person physical therapy.
With most TKA patients in pilot studies showing great satisfaction for clinician-controlled teletherapy, the future of knee replacement rehabilitation cannot arrive soon enough.