New personalised electrical stimulation program for pain relief from knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common and painful condition affecting over 2 million Australians. These numbers are predicted to rise substantially in coming years, potentially by as much as 58% by 2032, due to an aging population and rising obesity rates.

 

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that can substantially impact quality of life. It commonly affects the knee and hip joints and it is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. In addition to painful joints, difficulty in moving and reduced ability to do day-to-day activities, it can also impair sleep and psychological health.

 

“People with knee osteoarthritis commonly present with pain when walking, initiating movement after rest and particularly on uneven ground or up and down stairs” says Joseph Wallace-Ellis, a home care community physiotherapist. “Unfortunately, chronic pain can lead to people limiting their physical movement, which often results in frailty, lower limb muscle atrophy and dependency on walking aids. Maintaining optimal circulation and thigh muscle strength is very important for knee stability and reducing chronic osteoarthritic pain.”

 

The cost of osteoarthritis on the Australian health system is estimated to be more than $3.75 billioni. Knee osteoarthritis is a major contributor to disability and lost productivity, with joint replacements for advanced disease a major contributor.

 

“Fortunately, most people with knee osteoarthritis can be treated without surgery. With the help of physiotherapy to form personalised home exercise programs in conjunction with EMS therapy, the need for joint replacement surgery can be significantly reduced” continues Physiotherapist Mr Wallace-Ellis. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are electrical pulses that work to contract and relax muscles. This can increase the blood flow in legs and feet to help with a range of issues, such as poor circulation, leg aches, cramps and swollen feet and ankles.

 

Research has shown that electrical stimulation treatment can be as effective as exercise in knee osteoarthritis and treatment can be suggested especially for the patients who have difficulty in performing, or are unable to perform, an exercise programii.

 

Thankfully, a new EMS program is offering sufferers potential relief, including:

• Reduction of pain and discomfort associated with knee osteoarthritis 
• Reduction of swelling in the knee caused by osteoarthritis
• Increased muscle strength in the legs of people with knee osteoarthritis, which can help support and stabilise the knee.

 

The new EMS program for knees is now available with the Revitive Medic Coach, the only device of its kind to be endorsed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and registered as a medical device with the TGA for people with Osteoarthritis of the knee.

 

“Revitive Medic Coach is a drug-free therapy offering market leading technology. Connected to a user’s Smartphone and App controlled, it recommends a personalised therapy plan based on the person’s leg symptoms and the impact it has on their life. Revitive Medic Coach has the best performing Vigorous Program capable of doubling a person’s leg circulation*. The app includes three different Knee Programs; Gentle, Standard and Vigorous,” says Mr Paul Courtney from Actegy Health, the makers of Revitive. “When used with the large Thigh Pads, the Knee Programs contract and relax the quadriceps to improve circulation and strengthen the thigh muscles. The different Knee Programs s are designed to accommodate the severity of the knee concern for each user.”

 

“Over the course of a person’s therapy plan Revitive Medic Coach helps them to stay motivated by tracking their daily and weekly progress and receiving weekly awards. The aim is to help strengthen the supporting muscles of the knee and help stabilise the knee,” continues Mr Courtney. 

“I have found EMS an effective, non-pharmaceutical, adjunct therapy for clients with knee osteoarthritis. I suggest Revitive to many of my clients as an option to help promote healing, boost lower-limb circulation, improve exercise motivation, manage pain and also assist with lower limb swelling” explains Mr Wallace-Ellis.

 

How the programs work

Vigorous Knee Program- Provides the most intense muscle strengthening program for people who require less rest between their electrical muscle stimulation. The Vigorous Program delivers 10 seconds of stimulation, followed by a 10-second rest period which repeats until the end of therapy. Delivering 3 muscle contractions per minute.

Standard Knee Program - Provides the standard muscle strengthening program. The standard therapy program delivers 10 seconds of stimulation, followed by a 20-second rest period which repeats until the end of therapy. Delivering 2 muscle contractions per minute.

 

Gentle Knee Program - Provides a more relaxed muscle strengthening program, by offering a more substantial rest between muscle stimulation. This therapy session delivers 10 seconds of stimulation, followed by a 50-second rest period which repeats until the end of therapy. Delivering 1 muscle contraction per minute.

 

The current RRP for Revitive Medic Coach with Knee Bundle is $599 and is now available at https://www.revitive.com/au/offers

* Projected based on average in 30 healthy people during 30 min use in Actegy funded study. Consult with your health care professional before use.

Consult with your health care professional before use. Do not use if fitted with an electronic implanted device such as a heart pacemaker or Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD), you are pregnant, being treated for, or have symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): such as pain, swelling and tenderness, heavy ache, warm or red skin in the leg. Always read the label. Follow the instructions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

 

About Actegy Health AU/NZ - Makers of Revitive

Actegy is a family-owned company started in 2003 with a mission to create life-changing drug-free health solutions that enable people to get more out of life. Over the last decade, Actegy Health has continued to develop and improve its range of products, working with designers, engineers and medical experts from leading UK universities. Revitive products are medical devices which have been rigorously tested to ensure their efficiency and safety.

 

https://www.revitive.com/au