Preventive Effect of Proprioceptive Stimulation on Muscle Atrophy
Condition: Knee Arthritis
MeSH terms: Arthritis; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2

Summary: 
      Confinement to bed, which occurs in many pathological situations, induces a muscle atrophy
      and a loss of muscle strength. Muscle atrophy is associated to impaired performance in motor
      tasks, such as posture and locomotion, and is therefore a major cause of loss of autonomy. It
      requires a stay in follow-up and rehabilitation service, and thus lengthens the duration of
      hospitalisation.

      Data underline the importance of afferent input integrity in the maintenance of muscle
      characteristics and postural control, and suggest that countermeasure programs based on the
      stimulation of proprioceptive inputs could be efficient to prevent muscle atrophy and falls.
      In particular, fundamental studies performed in rodents by the investigators laboratory have
      demonstrated that the adverse structural and functional adaptations which occur during muscle
      deconditioning can be counteracted through adequate physiological stimuli such as activation
      of proprioceptors. Based on this scientific expertise, the investigators aim is thus to
      prevent muscle atrophy and its functional consequences on posture and locomotion, following a
      surgical intervention in humans .

      The investigators will develop a device allowing stimulation of foot and ankle
      proprioceptors. In order to facilitate the evaluation of its efficiency, the device will be
      tested on a selected population confined to bed during a post-operative period (knee
      replacement). It efficiency will be evaluated by means of three parameters: muscle force of
      ankle plantar flexor, muscle volume of lower limb muscles, functional outcome (gait and
      balance analysis).

      The technique developed in the present project could bring benefits to patients confined to
      bed, or in elderly. Preventing or retarding development of muscle atrophy will beneficiate to
      health and quality of life of these patients. In addition, this device might allow to
      consider therapeutic strategies for prevention of atrophy in neuromuscular pathologies.
    

Detailed description: 
      The aim of the study is to study the efficacy of a proprioceptive stimulation device on
      prevention of calf muscle atrophy after a total knee replacement.

      The investigators developped a safe vibration and pressure stimulation device for le lower
      limb. The investigators want to carry out a RCT in order to demonstrate the efficacy of the
      stimulation device, compared to a not stimulated controle group.
    

Intervention name(s): proprioceptive stimulation
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): tendon vibrations and plantar stimulation with a therapeuthic orthosis, 4x30 min/day during 14 days
Other intervention name(s): therapeutic boots, vibration boots
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: knee arthritis; muscle atrophy; proprioceptive stimulation; vibrations