GLI EFFETTI DEL PIANO DI TELE-TERAPIA INTEGRATA MIR SHAKEEL E DELLA FISIOTERAPIA CONVENZIONALE SUL DOLORE, L'AMPIEZZA DEL MOVIMENTO, L'ANDATURA, GLI ESITI FUNZIONALI E LA QUALITÀ DELLA VITA IN PAZIENTI SOTTOPOSTI AD ARTROPLASTICA TOTALE DEL GINOCCHIO (RCT)

This study is a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial designed to compare the clinical effectiveness of a Modified Structured Telerehabilitation Intervention Protocol (MSTITP) with conventional in-person physical therapy in patients following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The study also investigates whether a digitally supported rehabilitation model can serve as an effective or superior alternative to traditional physiotherapy care.

Participants will be recruited from post-operative TKA patients who meet eligibility criteria and provide informed consent. Eligible participants will be adults aged 50-65 years who have undergone primary unilateral TKA and are medically stable for rehabilitation. Participants with neurological disorders, revision surgeries, or contraindications to exercise will be excluded.

Following enrollment, participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups:

Group A - Telerehabilitation (MSTITP)

Participants will receive a structured, progressive rehabilitation program delivered remotely via telecommunication platforms. The intervention will include:

Supervised exercise sessions conducted through video-based guidance Home-based progressive strengthening exercises Range of motion training protocols Gait re-education strategies Functional task-oriented exercises Regular remote monitoring and feedback from a physiotherapist

The protocol is designed to enhance accessibility, improve adherence, and ensure continuity of care in a home-based environment while maintaining clinical oversight.

Group B - Conventional Physiotherapy

Participants will receive standard postoperative rehabilitation through direct, face-to-face sessions in a clinical setting. Treatment will include:

Therapist-supervised exercise therapy Manual guidance for ROM improvement Strengthening exercises Gait training Functional mobility training Both groups will receive rehabilitation over an equal intervention duration to ensure comparability.

Outcome Measures

Participants in both groups will be assessed at predefined follow-up intervals using validated outcome measures.

Primary Outcomes:

Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale - VAS) Knee Range of Motion (goniometric measurement) Gait performance and functional ambulation

Secondary Outcomes:

Functional performance (standardized functional tests) Exercise adherence levels Kinesiophobia (fear of movement) Health-related quality of life Patient satisfaction with treatment

Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods to compare within-group and between-group differences over time. Intention-to-treat analysis will be considered to handle dropouts and maintain methodological rigor.

Rationale and Clinical Importance

Osteoarthritis is a major and increasing public health concern in Pakistan, contributing to a rising number of total knee arthroplasty procedures. This has created a significant demand for effective, accessible, and cost-efficient postoperative rehabilitation strategies.

Telerehabilitation represents an emerging model that may overcome barriers such as geographic limitations, limited physiotherapy access, financial burden, and poor adherence to clinic-based rehabilitation. By enabling structured rehabilitation in home settings with professional supervision, it has the potential to improve continuity of care and functional recovery.

This trial is expected to generate context-specific evidence regarding the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in a Pakistani healthcare setting and may contribute to the development of standardized postoperative rehabilitation guidelines for TKA patients. The findings may also support integration of hybrid rehabilitation models into routine clinical physiotherapy practice, ultimately improving functional outcomes and reducing healthcare system burden.