Digitally Supported Short-Term Prehabilitation Before Total Knee Replacement

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Knee Osteoarthristis, Total Knee Replacement

In brief

This study evaluates the feasibility of a short-term, digitally supported prehabilitation program for patients scheduled for elective total knee replacement (TKR). Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability, and recovery following TKR remains heterogeneous, with a substantial proportion of patients experiencing delayed functional recovery. Prehabilitation may improve perioperative outcomes, but its implementation is often limited by short preoperative time windows. The Prehab2Rehab-KneeTEP trial is a single-center, two-arm, randomized controlled feasibility study conducted in Austria. Patients will be randomized (1:1) to either a multimodal video-supported prehabilitation program or usual care. The intervention consists of a 10 to 14-day preoperative exercise program including strength, endurance, coordination, and gait training, supported by a digital application, and is complemented by a digitally supported transition phase after hospital discharge until the start of inpatient rehabilitation. The primary objective is to assess feasibility in terms of recruitment, retention, adherence, fidelity, acceptability, and safety. Secondary exploratory outcomes include clinical recovery indicators, functional performance, and patient-reported outcomes assessed across the perioperative pathway.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07621666

Run by

Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Prevention

People needed

60

Starts

2026-07-15

Expected to finish

2027-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-14

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Eligibility will be determined during the outpatient consultations at the Medical
• Center in Bad Vigaun. Patients will be screened against the following criteria:
• Age ≥18 years at the time of enrolment.
• Clinically diagnosed with advanced osteoarthritis and with a medical indication for elective TKR.
• Either a scheduled surgery or a documented intention to undergo TKR within the recruitment period.
• Elective surgery is scheduled for at least 14 days after enrolment to allow completion of the 10 to 14-day prehabilitation intervention.
• Physical ability to safely perform the prescribed exercise program, as confirmed by the treating physician.
• Willingness to participate in a digitally supported training intervention at either the center or home-based.
• Sufficient digital literacy and access to internet-enabled devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer).
• Adequate German language proficiency to follow exercise instructions and study procedures.

You may not qualify if…

• Patients will be excluded if any of the following apply:
• Pregnancy at the time of enrolment.
• Emergency, revisional, or non-elective surgery.
• Surgery scheduled less than 14 days after enrolment.
• Severe physical impairment or medical contraindication to exercise training (e.g., unstable cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, acute musculoskeletal injury).
• Patients with contraindications outlined in the Medizinisches Leistungsprofil (MLP) 2.0 that preclude rehabilitation and/or surgery.
• Participation in another clinical study that could interfere with the intervention or study outcomes.

Where it is running

• Medizinisches Zentrum Bad Vigaun GmbH & Co. KG — Hallein, State of Salzburg, Austria

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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