Implementation of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Total Knee Arthroplasty

What this Trial Is About

Patients undergoing total knee replacement often face significant loss of strength in the quadriceps muscle, leading to ongoing weakness and reduced function over time. This research focuses on studying neuromuscular electrical stimulation NMES, a technique that may help reduce muscle weakness after surgery. The trial aims to evaluate how effective and feasible it is to implement NMES in real-world rehabilitation settings across two large healthcare organizations. The study compares two groups of patients recovering from total knee arthroplasty TKA. One group receives standard rehabilitation care combined with NMES using a special portable device that helps stimulate muscle contractions and tracks treatment adherence. The other group receives usual rehabilitation care without NMES. This approach allows researchers to see if adding NMES improves recovery compared to typical care alone. Participants attend outpatient physical therapy clinics and are assessed before surgery and at several points after surgery, up to 24 weeks. The study measures physical function using tests like the Timed Up and Go, sit-to-stand, quadriceps strength, knee motion, and patient satisfaction. Researchers also monitor how well NMES is used and its impact on recovery. The total participation includes regular clinic visits and outcome assessments to track progress.

Implementation of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Total Knee Arthroplasty