The Effects of Visuomotor Training on the Functional Recovery of Post-Surgery Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

(1) Background: Musculoskeletal conditions show increasing prevalence and high economic/human burden. Recovery for hip or knee surgery may require more than 26 weeks, while universally accepted rehabilitation guidelines are missing. Provided that multisensory-based training enhances motor learning, the study aims to verify if visuomotor training accelerates the recovery of lower limb motor function after orthopedic surgery. (2) Methods: Post-surgery subjects were randomly assigned to receive visuomotor training as an add-on to the conventional physical therapy (VTG), or receive the conventional therapy alone (CG). Subjects performed 40 one-hour training sessions in 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the improvement in the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) over the minimally clinical important difference (MCID) at 4 weeks post-randomization. The secondary endpoint included pain reduction. (3) Results: Eighteen patients were equally distributed into the VTG and CG groups. While LEFS and pain scores significantly improved in both groups, the VTG exceeded the LEFS MCID by 12 points and halved the pain value after the first 4 weeks of treatment, while the CG reached the endpoints only after treatment end (p = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Visuomotor training offers an innovative rehabilitation approach that accelerates the recovery of lower limb motor function in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Comprehensive rehabilitation after supracondylar comminuted femur fracture managed with ORIF plate in osteosynthesis: A case report

“…As a result of these factors, supracondylar femur fractures are becoming more severe and common. A distal femoral metaphysis fracture, which is where the femoral condyle cancellous bone meets the diaphyseal cortical bone, is known as a femoral supracondylar fracture (Andrenelli et al, 2021;Sasun et al, 2022).…”

“…The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) improved in contrast to the minimum clinically important difference at four weeks after randomization (MCID). After orthopedic surgery, the recovery of lower limb motor function and pain relief appear to be accelerated by a novel rehabilitation strategy that integrates visuomotor training with traditional physical therapy(Andrenelli et al, 2021).In one study, the incidence of infection, knee range of motion and distal femur fracture union were evaluated between early and delayed Anderson open type III fracture repair. In total, 70 patients with ages ranging from 20 to 60 had Gustilo Anderson open type III-A fractures.…”