Did you know that more than one million hip and knee replacements are performed in the US every year? With better healthcare allowing people to live longer and more active lives, this number is expected to grow substantially to about 3.5 million per year by 2035.
To make the experience of undergoing joint replacement as comfortable as possible, surgeons are now able to use application software connected to wearable devices such as the Apple Watch or the iPhone. The smart technology in such wearable devices make it possible for your surgeon to track your movements in real time. This allows for accurate presurgical planning, early identification of problems, and prompt alteration of postsurgical therapy protocols to enhance your recovery or change a potential negative outcome into a positive one.
Dr. Nicholas B. Frisch and The DeClaire LaMacchia Orthopaedic Institute are involved in the groundbreaking mymobility™ Clinical Study documenting the impact of the Zimmer Biomet mymobility™ app on joint replacement. This mobile app will remind patients to read timed educational information, perform assigned tasks, and complete specific exercises. At the same time, it allows the surgical team to closely monitor all aspects of the postsurgical recovery. Each patient qualifying for this study will receive a free Apple Watch to optimize outcomes of knee or hip replacement surgery.
The use of wearable technology has grown exponentially and is starting to become more prolific in healthcare. Programs such as mymobility can provide valuable information that to date we have not even had an opportunity to evaluate. As we continue to collect more data and analyze that data critically, as surgeons there is a potential opportunity to provide more tailored surgical plans specifically for each individual patient.
Smart technology encourages a proactive approach to healthcare as patients have their activity information readily available to fully participate in their own recovery. Another advantage is these applications serve as the perfect communication tool between the surgical team and the patient potentially reducing the recovery time and costs associated with prolonged physical therapy.
The use of wearable technology has absolutely exploded in recent years. It’s exciting to see how we, at The DeClaire LaMacchia Orthopaedic Institute in Rochester MI, can utilize that technology in joint replacement to enhance our patients’ experience and outcomes.
