Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

5 p.

Publication Date

6-2004

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Source ISSN

0003-9993

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2003.08.088

Abstract

Objective

To assess device accuracy, patient acceptance, and effect of a computerized biofeedback knee goniometer (CBG), on patients’ compliance with active range of motion (AROM) exercises after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Design

Two-stage study: measurement validation on asymptomatic controls and an unblinded, multiple crossover trial.

Setting

Inpatient rehabilitation.

Participants

Asymptomatic controls (n=14) and post-TKA inpatients (n=11).

Interventions

For measurement validation, CBG-angle measurements were compared with manual, clinician-obtained angles. To assess motivational effect, the CBG was worn after TKA; on alternating days, it either monitored AROM silently (no feedback) or provided audiovisual feedback about reaching preset range of motion (ROM) goals and prompted the patients to exercise when idle.

Main outcome measures

To assess accuracy, the device’s readings were compared with manual measurements. Patient satisfaction was determined by a self-report questionnaire; exercise compliance was assessed by calculating activity rate and stratified interactivity intervals.

Results

CBG readings reproduced clinician measurements reliably between 0° and 100° (η2=98.5%). Auditory feedback was more helpful than visual feedback for motivating exercise. During feedback-on days, the mean total activity rate ± standard deviation was 15.1±10.9 activity counts per hour, and the interactivity interval was 6.7±5.7 minutes. The activity rate was higher on feedback-off days—22.5±11.1 counts/hour (P=.11)—and the mean interactivity interval was 3.6±2.7 minutes (P=.07).

Conclusions

The CBG provided reliable, unbiased estimates of clinician measurements of joint angle within the range of 0° to 100°. The CBG was accepted well by most patients. Surprisingly, slightly more ROM activity was noted during feedback-off days than feedback-on days.

Comments

Accepted version. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 85, No. 6 (June 2004): 1026-1030. DOI. © 2004 Elsevier. Used with permission.

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