Comprehensive Pune Knee Strategy with Innovative Brace combining the latest technology for Osteoarthritis launched at Sancheti Institute in Pune

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Pune 19 January 2019 : Sancheti Hospital has launched a new kind of movement that combines established physiotherapy principles with an innovative brace based on the latest technology and this is named as Pune OA-Knee Strategy (PKS). This comprehensive strategy and the brace are launched for the first time in India and will affect the lives of millions of Osteoarthritis patients in India. On the side-lines of the Conference on recent advances in physiotherapy and management of knee arthritis this information was given by Dr Parag Sancheti Chairman and Managing Director Sancheti Hospital in presence of Dr Anil Bhave Clinical Director at Orthopaedic Rehabilitation center & Director Wasserman Gait Laboratory at Rubin Institute, Sinai Hospital, Baltimore USA, Dr Ashok Shyam, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Kailas Patil, Orthopaedic Surgeon

This new concept focusses on Disease Modifying Strategies that can be used to halt or even regress the progression of osteoarthritis and help the patient achieve Functional Independence. With the growth in the elderly population in India, the incidence of Osteoarthritis in India is on a rapid rise. This strategy will help in controlling the disease early and in the long run make our elderly healthier and more functional. The new brace developed by Dr Anil Bhave is one of the cornerstones of this strategy. The brace has sensors that calculate the knee range of motion and how much exercise the patient needs. It has a stimulator in built into it that provide Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NEMS) to activate weakened muscles and make them stronger. It also has the provision to connect to a mobile app, which can help a remote healthcare provider to supervise the therapy and activity level and provide advice. The data

is all synced in the cloud and can be used for research purposes to constantly improve the process. The entire program will be synchronised by a mobile app of Pune Knee Strategy which will focus on patient empowerment through Education and update on latest and validated treatment plans, Assessment of his or her own osteoarthritis status and functional status and Supervision and advice from healthcare professionals from Sancheti Hospital. The app and the details of the strategy will be soon available on Sancheti Website.

Dr Parag Sancheti said that Knee Osteoarthritis is the major orthopaedic disease that is rapidly becoming a major healthcare problem. Osteoarthritis is the wear-and-tear type of arthritis that commonly affects the knees of older people. The disease frequently affects one side of your knee more than the other. The PKS Strategy and the Bhave’s knee brace for osteoarthritis will help reduce pain and disability by using a multimodal approach towards controlling Knee Osteoarthritis. This will definitely improve patient’s ability to get around and help increase the distance they can walk comfortably

Dr Anil Bhave added that with an increase in a number of osteoarthritis cases it is an urgent need to tackle it early. We cannot allow our elderly population to become disabled by osteoarthritis when a comprehensive strategy to control it is available. We must help our elderly and our seniors to age gracefully and Pune OA-Knee Strategy along with the New Brace will help them to Age Gracefully and be functionally independent. This brace will be used primarily for stage 1 and 2 patients so that stage 3 and 4 where knee replacement is the only option can be avoided. Although this may not completely avoid surgeries for all, this is certainly likely to bring down the number of surgeries required. The new technology has the potential to relieve millions of people across the world from pain and disability and we should use it optimally in Pune.

Dr Kailas Patil Joint Replacement and Arthroscopic Surgeon said that similar strategies had been used successfully in the USA however a modified version for

Indian Patients is essential. The Pune Knee Strategy will combine the best of both worlds to help our patients better

Dr Ashok Shyam Chief Researcher and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Sancheti Hospital, who is also helping in developing the PKS app, said that the app would be educational as well as therapeutic for all OA patients. The app will automatically collect patients functional data and will help us devise individualised strategies for patients. It can help in detecting areas that need more work and can also motivate patients to optimally follow the program. On a long term perspective, a lot of data can be collected and used for research to improve and upgrade current treatment methods.

Dr Parag Sancheti informed that this disease modifying therapy would start at the hospital within a few weeks and the Pune OA-Knee Strategy app will be launched soon with details on Sancheti Website.