Physical therapists can remotely guide post-op TKA patients through exercises on the ROMTech PortableConnect device for superior recovery results at home, per new research. 

ROMTech, Brookfield, Conn-based creator of the PortableConnect Adaptive Telemed Technology, announces the results of a recent independent study that shows the home-based, PortableConnect remote-clinician-controlled physical therapy device leads to superior outcomes when compared to standard physical therapy for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The recent study, published in the Journal of Arthroplasty, compared a total of 135 consecutive total-knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who received the standard therapy protocol (STP) with 135 consecutive patients who received therapy with the PortableConnect home-based, clinician-controlled therapy system (HCTS). Outcomes were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks, and included a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, KOOS JR score (overall knee health post TKA), and knee range of motion (ROM), all measured by the same, certified physical therapists.

The results revealed postoperative knee ROM was greater in the HCTS group at all time points throughout the study period, at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. VAS and the KOOS JR functional scores were statistically better in the HCTS group at all time points and exceeded the threshold for minimal clinically important differences for both VAS and KOOS JR. There were significantly fewer cases of arthrofibrosis requiring manipulation under anesthesia in the HCTS group (1.48% versus 4.44%).

“Faced with various factors, aging seniors in the U.S. are requiring hip and knee replacement surgery at an increasingly high rate,” says Steve Siegel, ROMTech president. “We’ve addressed the challenge with the help of top-tier doctors and practitioners by speeding up the rehabilitation process with home care. This study shows exceptional clinical results that we are extremely proud of.”

ROMTech teletherapy technology is designed to empower patients and care teams, including physical therapists, by providing customizable rehabilitation protocols, remote connectivity, and the ability to recover in the privacy, safety, and convenience of home at a decreased cost, enabling patients to return to a full quality of life.