Using wearable technology to improve recovery after tibial fracture surgery
Official title: Leveraging Wearables to Transform Patient Recovery after Tibial Fracture Surgery
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-10904699 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help people who have had surgery for a broken leg by using wearable devices to track how much force their leg experiences during everyday activities, so they can create better recovery exercises and support for healing over the year after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $520,002 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080708-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10904699 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently undergone tibial fracture surgery and are in the early stages of their recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had tibial fractures or those who are not undergoing surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing recovery for patients who have undergone tibial fracture surgery by utilizing wearable technology to monitor tibial bone forces during daily activities. The study aims to gather data on how much force patients' tibias experience at home in the year following surgery, and to create a clinical reference guide for rehabilitation exercises that optimally expose the tibia to necessary forces. By understanding the relationship between tibial forces and recovery outcomes, the research seeks to improve rehabilitation strategies and patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective rehabilitation programs that significantly improve recovery outcomes for patients after tibial fracture surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of wearables in rehabilitation is gaining traction, this specific approach to monitoring tibial forces post-surgery is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noehren, Brian — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Noehren, Brian
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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.