Using wearables 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-11389508 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A wearable-enabled study will track tibial bone forces in people recovering from tibia surgery to help tailor rehab and improve long-term function.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $510,962 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080708-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389508 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have undergone tibial shaft fracture surgery and are in the early to mid-recovery phase.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing tibial surgery or those outside the recovery window may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will follow adults who had tibial shaft fracture surgery and wear sensors to measure the forces their tibia experiences during daily life and rehab. Researchers will build a knowledge base and user-friendly tools to understand how much load the tibia endures and how that relates to recovery over the first year. The team will also create a reference guide ranking common rehab exercises by the tibial forces they apply, aiming to optimize treatment plans. By linking early bone loading to 6- and 12-month outcomes, clinicians could better guide patients through recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized rehab plans that improve long-term function and ability to return to work and leisure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that understanding mechanical loading can influence healing, but this project aims to create a comprehensive at-home loading profile and a clinical reference though this area is still evolving.
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.