About the PhD thesis

Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and reduced mobility, and many patients are treated with total knee replacement surgery. Although the operation is usually successful, recovery varies greatly from person to person, and today’s follow-up mainly relies on occasional hospital visits and patients’ own descriptions of their progress.

This PhD thesis explores whether small wearable motion sensors placed on the thigh can provide a simple and reliable way to follow patients’ recovery in everyday life. The research shows that even very simple sensors can accurately measure walking patterns and detect meaningful changes in how people move. These measurements can distinguish between individuals with knee osteoarthritis and those without, and they can track how walking function improves in the weeks and months after knee replacement surgery.

Importantly, the thesis demonstrates that recovery can be monitored at home during normal daily activities, rather than only during short clinical assessments. The findings suggest that continuous, objective information about walking may help clinicians gain a better understanding of each patient’s recovery process, identify delayed progress earlier, and support more personalized rehabilitation.

Overall, this work contributes to the development of practical digital tools that may improve follow-up care after knee replacement and support future patient-centered rehabilitation strategies