One of the challenges in treating Osteoarthritis (OA) is finding the right balance: too little movement leads to stiffness and atrophy, while excessive or misaligned loading can make joint degeneration worse.
Traditional training or therapy equipment often fails to align with the strength curve of muscles supporting the joints, so that load is lightest where the muscle can safely handle more load, and heaviest where the muscle is weakest.
The result can be excessive strain on joints, muscle imbalances and compensatory movement patterns, or even increased pain and limited progress in mobility.
getback™ Clinical Director Geoffrey Mackay says that bio-mechanically optimised exercise therapy devices can minimise these risks by precisely controlling load distribution and range of motion.
‘Over four decades our healthcare technology partner David Health has developed its exercise therapy devices based on an in-depth understanding of human biomechanics and clinical evidence,’ he said.
‘Resistance profiles built into the devices are engineered to mirror the muscle’s strength curve to reduce joint stress while maximising muscle activation.’
‘Each exercise therapy device, whether for the knee, hip, shoulder or spine, incorporates this feature to ensure optimal safety and effectiveness.’
Mackay said that every session of a getback exercise therapy program is supervised by a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist, which builds in an additional layer of safety and oversight.
‘Our programs are based on gradual progression which supports the restoration of mobility without irritation,’ he said.
‘The therapist can also customise the movement range according to pain thresholds, flexibility and stage of rehabilitation.’
A study by Denner (1997) highlighted that controlled resistance exercise which targets isolated muscle groups could significantly improve neuromuscular coordination and reduce pain in patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Similarly, Fehrmann et al. (2017) demonstrated that exercise therapy with the David Health spinal devices resulted in significant pain reduction and increased strength among patients with degenerative spine conditions.
Mackay said that these findings also translate to the management of OA in shoulder, hip and knee joints.
‘They reinforce that when movement respects biomechanics, it not only prevents further joint damage but also stimulates repair and rebuilds muscle balance.’
‘These are key factors in managing long-term osteoarthritis.’
Other studies have shown that device-based, movement-controlled rehabilitation enhanced confidence and reduced kinesiophobia [an excessive fear of physical movement, often stemming from the belief that movement will worsen pain] in musculoskeletal patients.
The future of osteoarthritis care: Data-driven biomechanics
All getback exercise therapy devices are connected through in-built software which records data from every movement – including its range and load – for review by therapists.
Mackay said this allows therapists to adapt exercise settings and track progress towards personalised goals.
‘The integration of biomechanics with digital intelligence marks a new era in OA rehabilitation where movement is safe, measurable, personalised and evidence-based.’
