Benefits of Early Proprioceptive Re-education Without Visual Information After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

rehabilitation : eyes closed: proprioceptive exercise with eyes closed

rehabilitation : eyes open: proprioceptive exercise with eyes open

Study summary

Osteoarthritis is a common and disabling joint disease, affecting 4.7% of men and 6.6% of women in France. It causes pain and impaired joint mobility, as well as a reduction in proprioception due to damage to intra-articular mechanoreceptors. In the long term, gonarthrosis can lead to limitations in activities of daily living and increase the risk of falls and institutionalisation.

Total knee arthroplasty is an effective treatment for reducing pain and improving functional capacity. However, 50% of patients operated on are not satisfied with the results obtained at 6 months, and between 37% and 55% experience no significant improvement in their functional mobility. It is therefore important to better define the modalities of rehabilitation interventions in order to improve their efficiency and the functional benefits for the patient.

Proprioception, the visual system and the vestibular system are the three major systems involved in posture and balance. Rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving balance involve these three inputs and their interaction. Studies have shown that proprioceptive rehabilitation can significantly improve balance and gait in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. However, visual feedback may hinder the development of balance skills by limiting the use of other sensorimotor systems.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• the length of the projection of the centre of gravity on a posturography platform, in bipedal support, eyes closed, over 30 seconds — 3 weeks after randomization
  The main evaluation criterion is the length of the trace of the projection of the centre of gravity on a posturography platform, in bipedal support, eyes closed, over 30 seconds at 3 weeks (± 5 days) post-operatively or at discharge from the rehabilitation department, at the first intervening element. For this protocol, the posturographic analysis will be performed in the gait analysis laboratory of the Rouen Normandy University Hospital (Neurophysiology Department), by an investigator blinded to the treatment arm and trained in the use of the software.

Trial sites (2)

More University Hospital, Rouen trials in France