T-EX: Technology-based exercise protocols for knee osteoarthritis: A computational modeling framework combined with wearable technology, to support patient-specific exercise protocols in knee OA patients.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease, for which no cure exists to reverse or stop progression. Joint loading plays an important role in cartilage homeostasis and therefore atypical joint loading is known to accelerate OA progression. Patientspecific exercise protocols, aiming to restore typical joint loading during daily life activities, therefore, holds the potential to slow down OA progression. We will leverage the definition and implementation of individualized exercise protocols with optimized joint loading, using musculoskeletal models personalized to match the individual’s anatomy, neuromuscular control and ligament properties. Nowadays, computational modeling presents the opportunity to predict movement patterns that minimize knee joint loading and/or ligament strain during daily life activities. Combining predictive modeling techniques with AI-enabled IMU-systems and introducing them in a rehabilitation context can revolutionize daily practice of clinicians in defining the optimal movement strategy for each individual patient.Furthermore, it can provide the patient feedback during home-based execution of daily life activities. My work aims to truly impact knee OA progression and patient quality of life, which is especially relevant given the current pandemic situation, where remote therapy becomes the standard of care and where provision of smart tools for rehabilitation has never been more relevant.