Better Swelling Control After Knee Replacement Surgery
Official title: Swelling Management after Total Knee Arthroplasty
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11143164 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is exploring if a special compression garment can help reduce swelling and improve recovery for people who have had total knee replacement surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 2, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $152,032 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AR082101-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143164 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals preparing for or recently undergoing total knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had or are not planning to have total knee replacement surgery would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
After total knee replacement surgery, many people experience significant swelling, which can make it harder to regain strength and function, potentially leading to long-term weakness. While standard compression stockings offer limited help, our team has developed an adjustable compression garment that showed promising results in a small initial test, cutting swelling by half. This project aims to carefully examine how effective this new garment is at reducing swelling and improving muscle strength and overall recovery. We also want to understand the direct connection between swelling and how well your leg muscles work after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new garment could lead to faster recovery, better strength, and improved long-term outcomes for patients undergoing total knee replacement.
How similar studies have gone: A preliminary study by this team showed that the inelastic, adjustable compression garment decreased early postoperative swelling by 50%, suggesting a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bade, Michael J — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bade, Michael J
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.