Actively Recruiting
iPATH - Digital Home-Based Training for Physical Activity Promotion in Older Adults After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Led by Heidelberg University · Updated on 2025-09-02
213
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a 12-week digital home-based exercise program, with or without personal coaching, to increase physical activity in older adults after total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to find out if combining the digital exercise program with personal coaching leads to higher physical activity six months after surgery compared to usual care. It also compares the effects of the exercise program alone to usual care and to the combined program with coaching. Participants are randomly assigned after a six-week postoperative assessment to one of three groups: a 12-week digital exercise program with virtual personal coaching, the same exercise program without coaching, or usual care without additional intervention. The exercise program uses the Keep-On-Keep-Up (KOKU) app, which guides strength and balance exercises to be done three times per week at home. Personal coaching involves three video call sessions to support physical activity through goal setting, planning, self-monitoring, and overcoming barriers. Participants also receive a wrist-worn activity tracker to help monitor their activity. Participants are assessed one week before surgery, six weeks after surgery, and six months after surgery. Assessments include wearing a body-fixed sensor to measure daily step count and walking distance, along with other mobility and health measures such as walking speed, hip pain, psychological factors, and physical capacity. Researchers also track falls, adherence to the interventions, quality of life, and healthcare use. The total participation time includes the 12-week intervention and follow-up up to six months post-surgery, with safety and outcome monitoring throughout.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Digital Home-Based Physical Activity Promotion for Older Adults After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 65 years or older
- Diagnosis of coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis) with indication for total hip arthroplasty
- Residence within 50 kilometers of Heidelberg
- Ability to walk at least 10 meters with or without walking aid
- Access to Wi-Fi internet at home
- Provided written informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Insufficient German language skills
- Hearing problems that prevent communication via video or telephone
- Vision problems that prevent recognizing study materials
- Contralateral hip osteoarthritis requiring total hip arthroplasty
- Severe medical conditions affecting physical fitness (e.g., advanced heart failure, certain heart valve defects, cardiac arrhythmia with dizziness, COPD requiring oxygen therapy, cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, advanced Parkinson's disease with rollator use)
- Living in a nursing home
- Planned major medical procedure requiring hospital stay within 6 months
- Participation in another competing clinical study
- Cognitive impairment indicated by a 6-item Cognitive Impairment Test score above 7 points
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 week
Participants undergo baseline assessments including physical activity measurements, physical capacity, hip pain and function, psychological and cognitive factors, and quality of life one week before surgery.
1 baseline visit (in-person or remote)
Duration - 6 weeks
Participants receive total hip arthroplasty followed by standard inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation until 6 weeks postoperatively.
Routine care visits as per standard rehabilitation
Duration - 1 week
Participants are assessed for physical activity and other outcomes 6 weeks after surgery and are randomized into one of three groups.
1 visit (in-person or remote)
Duration - 12 weeks
Participants in the intervention groups engage in a 12-week digital home-based strength and balance exercise program using the KOKU app. One group also receives three personal coaching video calls to support physical activity behavior change. The control group receives usual care without access to the exercise program or coaching.
Initial home visit and three coaching video calls for coached group; independent app use for others
Duration - 1 week
Participants complete follow-up assessments including physical activity measures, physical capacity, hip function, psychological factors, and quality of life approximately 6 months after surgery.
1 visit (in-person or remote)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Department of Orthopaedics, Heidelberg University Hospital
Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, 69118
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
T
Tobias Eckert, PhD
C
Christian Werner, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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