Remote exercise program for people with knee replacements
Official title: Optimizing a Remote-based Physical Activity Intervention for Adults with Total Knee Replacement
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11170525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Different online program features will be tried to help adults who had a total knee replacement become more active.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $579,818 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG088083-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at least 12 months after total knee replacement who can use the internet and wear an activity tracker are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People less than 12 months after surgery, those without reliable internet or mailing addresses, or those who cannot safely increase activity due to other medical conditions may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would join a 6-month, fully automated online program called Energize! that helps you plan and report daily exercise, watch brief behavioral videos, and get automated feedback. The study enrolls adults at least 12 months after total knee replacement and uses activity trackers (accelerometers) to measure movement. Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), participants are randomized to receive different additional program components so researchers can find the most effective, scalable combination. Participation is remote and nationwide, so you can take part from home if you have internet access and can wear the activity tracker.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an affordable, home-based way for people with knee replacements to increase daily activity and improve long-term health.
How similar studies have gone: Automated online physical-activity programs have shown benefits in other older-adult groups, but they have rarely been tested specifically after total knee replacement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pellegrini, Christine Ann — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Pellegrini, Christine Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Self-powered knee implant load sensors to monitor total knee replacements
A tiny, self-powered sensor system is being developed to monitor the loads on a total knee replacement so doctors can keep an eye on implant health from afar.
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Remote-based physical activity program for adults after total knee replacement
A nationwide study tests a scalable, online program to help adults 12 months after knee replacement stay active and healthier without in-person visits.
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Self-powered knee implant that measures how your knee moves and bears weight inside the body
A new knee replacement implant will quietly power and transmit measurements of your knee’s movement and the forces across the joint during daily life.
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How neighborhood and social factors influence when people get knee replacement
This project looks at how neighborhood, healthcare access, and social circumstances affect when adults who need knee replacement actually receive surgery.
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Investigating how social factors affect the timing of total knee replacement surgery
This study looks at when people in the U.S. get knee replacement surgeries and how things like access to healthcare and living conditions affect that timing, so we can find ways to help more patients get the care they need when they need it.
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Improving Function and Pain After Total Knee Replacement Through Physical Activity and Weight Loss
This program helps adults who have had total knee replacement surgery improve their movement and reduce pain by focusing on physical activity and healthy weight.
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.