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Brain-Computer Interface Visualization Training to Optimize Muscle Activation Following Orthopaedic Surgery

Description

After orthopedic surgeries like knee or hip replacement, some patients struggle to fully activate their muscles due to a condition called Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI). AMI can slow recovery and make physical therapy less effective. This clinical trial is testing whether a special type of brain training-called neurofeedback visualization training-can help improve muscle activation and speed up recovery. In this study, patients will receive standard physical therapy after surgery. Half of them will also use a device that helps them "visualize" exercises while wearing a cap that reads brain signals (EEG). The cap tracks brain activity when patients imagine doing specific movements. A computer then shows a virtual avatar performing the movements, giving feedback in real time-like a video game controlled by the brain. The study includes patients recovering from one of four surgeries: 1. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) 2. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) 3. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) 4. Hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) The goal is to see if this training improves muscle strength, movement, and daily function more than standard therapy alone. The study will take place at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and enroll 240 adults, with 60 patients per type of surgery. Each participant will be followed for up to 6 months after surgery and complete strength tests, movement assessments, and questionnaires about their recovery. The hope is that combining brain training with physical therapy will lead to faster, more complete recoveries and improve how patients move after surgery.

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

After orthopedic surgeries like knee or hip replacement, some patients struggle to fully activate their muscles due to a condition called Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI). AMI can slow recovery and make physical therapy less effective. This clinical trial is testing whether a special type of brain training-called neurofeedback visualization training-can help improve muscle activation and speed up recovery. In this study, patients will receive standard physical therapy after surgery. Half of them will also use a device that helps them "visualize" exercises while wearing a cap that reads brain signals (EEG). The cap tracks brain activity when patients imagine doing specific movements. A computer then shows a virtual avatar performing the movements, giving feedback in real time-like a video game controlled by the brain. The study includes patients recovering from one of four surgeries: 1. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) 2. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) 3. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) 4. Hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) The goal is to see if this training improves muscle strength, movement, and daily function more than standard therapy alone. The study will take place at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and enroll 240 adults, with 60 patients per type of surgery. Each participant will be followed for up to 6 months after surgery and complete strength tests, movement assessments, and questionnaires about their recovery. The hope is that combining brain training with physical therapy will lead to faster, more complete recoveries and improve how patients move after surgery.

Brain-Computer Interface Visualization Training to Optimize Muscle Activation Following Orthopaedic Surgery: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Brain-Computer Interface Visualization Training to Optimize Muscle Activation Following Orthopaedic Surgery

Condition
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chicago

Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Patient age \>18 years
  • * Ability to complete neurofeedback training and follow study follow-ups
  • * Indicated for one of the four investigated orthopedic procedures
  • *
  • * Inability to participate in neurofeedback training
  • * Lack of decisional capability
  • * History of stroke, movement disorder (e.g. Parkinson's), peripheral neuropathy
  • * Cardiac pacemaker or other internal electronic device
  • * BMI \>35
  • * Previous surgery or specific pathology on the affected joint (refer to procedure specific indications below)
  • * Patients undergoing primary ACLR with autograft or allograft tissue
  • * Adjunct lateral Extra-articular tenodesis will be included
  • * Additional meniscus debridement and repair will be included Procedure-specific exclusion criteria
  • * Revision ACL surgery
  • * Moderate to Severe arthritis - Kellgren-Lawerence (KL) Grade \> 3
  • * Patients with meniscus root repair
  • * Non-weight-bearing status exceeding 1 week postoperatively
  • * Patients undergoing primary TKA
  • * Preoperative total knee range of motion of at least 100 degrees (combined flexion and extension)
  • * Prior extensor mechanism tendon repair, quadriceps or patella tendon. Procedure specific exclusion criteria
  • * Revision surgery
  • * Hinged implant
  • * Any open procedure involving the knee joint
  • * Symptomatic arthritis in the contralateral knee with planned or expected total knee arthroplasty within 6 months
  • * Inflammatory Arthritis
  • * Patients undergoing primary THA Procedure Specific Exclusion Criteria
  • * Revision Surgery
  • * Any open procedure involving the hip joint
  • * Bilateral THA procedures
  • * Inflammatory Arthritis
  • * Revision Surgery
  • * Diagnosis of hip dysplasia

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Rush University Medical Center,

Jorge Chahla, MD, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Rush University Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2028-08