Effect of intelligent wearable rehabilitation system on rehabilitation training after knee joint replacement

Objective To explore the clinical application value of intelligent wearable rehabilitation system in rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Prospective study. The 120 patients from Beijing Boai Hospital treated by TKA from October 2017 to April 2018 were enrolled, including 15 males and 69 females, aged from 55 to 78 years old, body mass index(BMI) from 19.7 to 32.6 kg/m2. Preoperative range of motion(ROM) from 84° to 117°, K-L grading Ⅲ 42 patients, Ⅳ 78 patients. The random number method was applied to divide 60 patients into control group and 60 patients into treatment group. During hospitalization and post-discharge, the control group was trained according to the doctor's advice and on-time review, while the treatment group used the NEO-SMART system for postoperative training.The pain visual analogue scale (VAS), knee range of motion (ROM) and knee HSS score of two groups were observed at different time points after surgery. Results There was no significant difference in gender, age, BMI and K-L grading between the two groups(all P values>0.05). Among the 120 patients, 4 patients were lost in follow-up, others were followed up for 6 months. No significant differences in VAS were noted between two groups at 48 h after operation (P>0.05). At 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery, VAS in the rehabilitation group was lower than that in the control group (2.2±0.61) and (1.2±0.37) scores in the rehabilitation group and (2.5±0.82) and (1.7±0.53) scores in the control group, respectively, with statistically significant differences (all P values 0.05), At 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, the knee joint ROM was higher in the treatment group(93.1°±3.07°, 103.5°±3.47°, 107.3°±4.33°) than the control group (88.7°±3.60°, 96.8°±3.76°, 99.8° ± 4.05°), there were statistical differences(all P values<0.01). The HSS scores of the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery (all P values<0.01). Conclusions Wearable rehabilitation system can significantly improve the effect of rehabilitation training for TKA patients after operation, which is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Arthroplasty, replacement, knee; Postoperative rehabilitation; Wearable device