Patients experienced earlier returns to function following total knee replacement surgery by using e-vive, a new app-driven muscle strengthening device, study results suggest.

The randomized, controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s patented e-vive neuromuscular electrical stimulation and patient engagement system for the enhanced rehabilitation of patients undergoing total knee replacement are being presented at the 2019 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting, according to CyMedica Orthopedics, developer of the e-vive system, in a media release.

The clinical trial results measuring 66 total knee replacement patients released today demonstrate an earlier return to function and increase in quadriceps strength in patients treated with e-vive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) versus the standard of care, according to researchers at Cleveland Clinic.

Statistically significant improvements were shown with these patients, including a clinically significant 12.9% increase in quadriceps strength at the 3 week postoperative point (a critical period of time where patients commonly experience a substantial loss of quadriceps strength, 29% loss for the standard of care patients in this trial), and increased TUG (Timed Up and Go) test times at both the 6 and 12 week postoperative points, further supporting previous publications representing NMES as an effective method for quadriceps strengthening for knee osteoarthritis and surgical rehabilitation, the release explains.

“We are incredibly pleased to share the results of this clinical trial which reaffirm the effectiveness of the e-vive solution for TKA patients,” says Rob Morocco, president and CEO, CyMedica Orthopedics, in the release.

Carlos Higuera-Rueda, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic and the study’s primary investigator, adds that, “The results of this trial demonstrate that pre- and post-surgical muscle strengthening and neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy was shown to be a significant component for patient rehabilitation to achieve quadriceps strength and an earlier return to activity. Combined with the digital health patient engagement features of the device, patients were able to actively participate in more productive rehabilitation following total knee replacement surgery.”

[Source(s): CyMedica Orthopedics, PR Newswire]