Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a well-established surgical intervention for the management of end-stage knee osteoarthritis. While the procedure is generally successful, postoperative rehabilitation remains a key determinant of long-term functional outcomes. Traditional rehabilitation protocols, p...

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Main Authors: Theodora Plavoukou, Spiridon Sotiropoulos, Eustathios Taraxidis, Dimitrios Stasinopoulos, George Georgoudis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4592
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author Theodora Plavoukou
Spiridon Sotiropoulos
Eustathios Taraxidis
Dimitrios Stasinopoulos
George Georgoudis
author_facet Theodora Plavoukou
Spiridon Sotiropoulos
Eustathios Taraxidis
Dimitrios Stasinopoulos
George Georgoudis
author_sort Theodora Plavoukou
collection DOAJ
description Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a well-established surgical intervention for the management of end-stage knee osteoarthritis. While the procedure is generally successful, postoperative rehabilitation remains a key determinant of long-term functional outcomes. Traditional rehabilitation protocols, particularly those requiring in-person clinical visits, often encounter limitations in accessibility, patient adherence, and personalization. In response, emerging sensor technologies have introduced innovative solutions to support and enhance recovery following TKA. This review provides a thematically organized synthesis of the current landscape and future directions of sensor-assisted rehabilitation in TKA. It examines four main categories of technologies: wearable sensors (e.g., IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes), smart implants, pressure-sensing systems, and mobile health (mHealth) platforms such as ReHub<sup>®</sup> and BPMpathway. Evidence from recent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews demonstrates their effectiveness in tracking mobility, monitoring range of motion (ROM), detecting gait anomalies, and delivering real-time feedback to both patients and clinicians. Despite these advances, several challenges persist, including measurement accuracy in unsupervised environments, the complexity of clinical data integration, and digital literacy gaps among older adults. Nevertheless, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and remote rehabilitation tools is driving a shift toward more adaptive and individualized care models. This paper concludes that sensor-enhanced rehabilitation is no longer a future aspiration but an active transition toward a smarter, more accessible, and patient-centered paradigm in recovery after TKA.
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spelling doaj-art-88dde9430d9c49e48ace86f5aebd8fe42025-08-20T03:36:23ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012515459210.3390/s25154592Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future DirectionsTheodora Plavoukou0Spiridon Sotiropoulos1Eustathios Taraxidis2Dimitrios Stasinopoulos3George Georgoudis4Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo Campus, 12243 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo Campus, 12243 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo Campus, 12243 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo Campus, 12243 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, GreeceTotal Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a well-established surgical intervention for the management of end-stage knee osteoarthritis. While the procedure is generally successful, postoperative rehabilitation remains a key determinant of long-term functional outcomes. Traditional rehabilitation protocols, particularly those requiring in-person clinical visits, often encounter limitations in accessibility, patient adherence, and personalization. In response, emerging sensor technologies have introduced innovative solutions to support and enhance recovery following TKA. This review provides a thematically organized synthesis of the current landscape and future directions of sensor-assisted rehabilitation in TKA. It examines four main categories of technologies: wearable sensors (e.g., IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes), smart implants, pressure-sensing systems, and mobile health (mHealth) platforms such as ReHub<sup>®</sup> and BPMpathway. Evidence from recent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews demonstrates their effectiveness in tracking mobility, monitoring range of motion (ROM), detecting gait anomalies, and delivering real-time feedback to both patients and clinicians. Despite these advances, several challenges persist, including measurement accuracy in unsupervised environments, the complexity of clinical data integration, and digital literacy gaps among older adults. Nevertheless, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and remote rehabilitation tools is driving a shift toward more adaptive and individualized care models. This paper concludes that sensor-enhanced rehabilitation is no longer a future aspiration but an active transition toward a smarter, more accessible, and patient-centered paradigm in recovery after TKA.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4592Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)rehabilitationwearable sensorssmart implantsmHealthtelerehabilitation
spellingShingle Theodora Plavoukou
Spiridon Sotiropoulos
Eustathios Taraxidis
Dimitrios Stasinopoulos
George Georgoudis
Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
Sensors
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
rehabilitation
wearable sensors
smart implants
mHealth
telerehabilitation
title Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
title_full Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
title_fullStr Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
title_full_unstemmed Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
title_short Sensor Technologies and Rehabilitation Strategies in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Landscape and Future Directions
title_sort sensor technologies and rehabilitation strategies in total knee arthroplasty current landscape and future directions
topic Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
rehabilitation
wearable sensors
smart implants
mHealth
telerehabilitation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4592
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