Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Feasibility of an Early Home-based Cycling Intervention After Knee Arthroplasty
Sponsor: Central Jutland Regional Hospital
Summary
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to evaluate whether an early, home-based stationary cycling programme, provided in addition to standard postoperative home exercises, is feasible and acceptable for patients recovering from knee arthroplasty. It will also inform the design of a larger clinical trial examining the effects of adding early cycling to standard postoperative home exercises on postoperative outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can the cycling programme and planned study procedures be delivered as intended? * Are participants willing and able to take part in the study and follow the planned interventions? * Do participants find the cycling programme and outcome assessments acceptable? * What changes, if any, are needed before conducting a larger clinical trial? Researchers will compare an early home-based stationary cycling programme provided in addition to standard postoperative home exercises with standard postoperative home exercises alone. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either the cycling group or the standard exercise group (control group) two weeks after surgery. * If assigned to the cycling group, perform 30 minutes of stationary cycling at home at least five days per week for eight weeks in addition to the standard postoperative home exercise programme. * If assigned to the control group, follow the standard postoperative home exercise programme and refrain from structured cycling during the eight-week intervention period. * Complete questionnaires and physical assessments at baseline and follow-up visits. * Complete selected patient-reported outcome measures at 6 and 12 months after surgery.
Official title: Feasibility of Adding Early Home-based Cycling to Standard Exercises After Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
24
Start Date
2026-09-04
Completion Date
2028-03
Last Updated
2026-09-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Early home-based stationary cycling
Participants will receive individual instruction in the cycling protocol from a physiotherapist in addition to the standard postoperative home-based exercise programme described for the control group. Beginning two weeks after knee arthroplasty, participants will perform 30 minutes of home-based stationary cycling at least five days per week for eight weeks. Cycling will initially be performed at a comfortable pace with no resistance and a cadence of approximately 50-60 rpm, with cadence and resistance gradually increasing as tolerated. If unable to complete full pedal rotations, participants will perform pendulum exercises twice daily for five minutes until sufficient knee flexion is achieved. A traffic-light symptom guide will be used to adjust cycling according to pain and swelling. Participants will not be routinely referred to supervised rehabilitation during the intervention period but may contact the physiotherapy team for advice or attend a consultation if clinically indicated.
Usual care: home-based exercise programme
Participants will follow the standard post-operative home-based exercise programme, consisting of five exercises targeting knee range of motion and quadriceps strength, performed twice daily. At the two-week post-operative follow-up, participants will receive instruction in a second exercise programme. The exercises prescribed will be individually adjusted by a physiotherapist according to the participant's recovery and readiness for progression, including knee range of motion, functional capacity, and pain. Participants will not be routinely referred to supervised rehabilitation during the intervention period but may contact the physiotherapy team for advice or attend an additional consultation if clinically indicated.