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

• Main Authors: Elisa Andrenelli, Luciano Sabbatini, Maurizio Ricci, Maria Gabriella Ceravolo, Marianna Capecci
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: musculoskeletal; visuomotor training; sensory-motor training; osteoarthritis; fractures; orthopedic rehabilitation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/9/4053

(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.