Integrating objective physical assessment in an orthopaedic pathway
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Integration of objective assessment in a hospital orthopaedic pathway to monitor patient outcomes and help address the chronic burden of musculoskeletal injury and diseases through precision healthcare
IRAS ID
320995
Contact name
Paul Read
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common a cause of disability in the older adult population, most frequently affecting the knee and the hip. This condition is associated with reduced mobility, loss of independence and increased levels of healthcare use.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is an acute, catastrophic event resulting in inability to return to sport/recreational activity. There is a high risk of re-injury, and the future health and function of the knee is commonly affected.
Patients with symptomatic OA, and those who have undergone ACL reconstruction display changes in movement and reductions in muscle strength. Research suggests increased lower limb strength reduces pain and improves physical function in OA patients, and influences how people move which may reduce re-injury risk following ACL reconstruction. Further research is needed to examine how movement and muscle strength changes over time in these cohorts using practically viable methods assessed outside of a laboratory.
Patient reported outcomes have largely been assessed using questionnaires and there is an absence of data to examine the muscle strength of patients and how they move. Further research is needed to investigate if patient characteristics, strength and movement ability are associated with successful outcomes following both operative treatment and non-operative management in those with OA or ACL injury. To maximise effectiveness, this should involve technology that is easy to use, cost effective and time-efficient. Currently there is a lack of research available to examine the efficacy of this approach in Orthopaedic outpatients settings.
This project will measure strength, movement and self reported function on a patients first outpatient visit to one of our hospitals, and follow patients on their journey (either operatively or non-operatively). Measurements will be repeated at different time points to investigate changes over time and identify factors that are associated with successful patient outcomes.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
24/WA/0029
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion