Grant: Undergraduate: Mobility, musculoskeletal health and arthritis - ICS

Total knee joint arthroplasty (TKA) procedures are being performed with increasing frequency all across Canada. Patients report significantly reduced pain levels after surgical intervention and some improvements in function. However, this successful procedure should not only improve pain and function, but also allow for physical activity levels that can positively impact overall health. This is especially true for these individuals who frequently are overweight or obese and at risk of many other health conditions associated with sedentary behaviour. Physical activity monitors are a tool that can be used to provide health care researchers with an objective picture of routine physical activity. These monitors are small and can be worn by individuals much like a watch or a pedometer. New technology that overcomes some of the limitations associated with previous generations of activity monitors may allow for more accurate objective measurement of daily physical activity in mobility-challenged populations. By following a group of patients before and after TKA surgery, and measuring physical activity and gait using technology in the lab and in daily life, it will be possible to study measurement characteristics associated with the newest activity monitoring technology and determine relationships among functional, mobility-related variables over time.