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AI-guided exercise program compared with in-person physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis

Compares AI-guided exercise with in-person physiotherapist exercise in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Key facts

Who runs it
The University of Hong Kong
Where
Hong Kong, Hong KongSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Effects of a Machine Learning-based Lower Limb Exercise Training System for Knee Pain
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
176 people, planned
Started
20 May 2026
Expected to end
1 Sept 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • The AI-powered Technological Surrogate Physiotherapist
  • Face-to-face physiotherapist-supervised exercise program
Record updated
4 June 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for people aged 50 or older with knee osteoarthritis and knee pain on most days. It compares an AI-guided exercise system with usual face-to-face physiotherapy.

Age
50 years or older
Sex
All sexes
Disease stage
Knee osteoarthritis grade 2, 3, or 4 on the K-L scale on X-ray, in at least 1 knee. Knee pain most days of the week.
Earlier treatment
Cannot join after knee or hip replacement surgery. Cannot join after a knee joint injection or knee arthroscopy in the past 6 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Past knee or hip replacement surgery
  • Unable to walk
  • Inflammatory arthritis affecting the whole body, such as gout
  • Knee injury or knee joint injection in the past 6 months
  • Memory or thinking problems, or other illnesses that prevent exercise

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 16 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • At least 50 years of age
  • Report having knee pain most days of the week
  • Has radiographic evidence of grade 2, 3, or 4 knee OA on the K-L scale in the posteroanterior and/or skyline view in at least 1 knee
  • Willing and able, both physically and cognitively, to perform the exercises required in the study protocol
  • Has normal or corrected-to-normal vision
  • Able to speak Cantonese and read Chinese, AND
  • Able to provide written informed consent

Who cannot take part

  • Involvement in a similar study (i.e., involving physical exercise or physical therapies for knee pain) within the past 6 months
  • Undergoing recent or imminent surgery (within 3 months) , OR
  • Having a history of knee or hip replacement surgery
  • Having a history of trauma (e.g., fractures around the knee, dislocation, sprains or tears of soft tissues like ligaments) or surgical arthroscopy of either knee within the past 6 months
  • Having cognitive impairment
  • Being nonambulatory
  • Having systemic inflammatory arthritis (e.g., gout)
  • Having intra-articular injection to the knee within the past 6 months
  • Having medical co-morbidities that preclude participation in exercise

Where in Hong Kong

  • 826, Haking Wong Building, Pokfulam, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongHong Kong, Hong KongContact: Kalun Or, Doctoral degreeNot yet recruiting

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of the study is to confirm the idea of AI-powered Technological Surrogate Physiotherapist (TSP), by demonstrating its effectiveness and value as a new technology-based contribution to OA healthcare. Participants will be randomized to one of two groups: (1) the conventional PT group receiving the exercise program delivered through in-person sessions; or (2) the AI-guided group following the program through the TSP after an initial PT session. All individuals will take part in the study for 12 weeks, and data will be collected at baseline and 12 weeks after randomization.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • The AI-powered Technological Surrogate PhysiotherapistTreatment being tested

    Participants will be required to perform three 30-minute exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks, with six exercises at any one time. During the exercise sessions, participants will receiveTechnological Surrogate Physiotherapist (TSP) support which will in particular leverage AI to offer innovative features and modules dedicated to enhancing exercise monitoring and supervision, real-time performance feedback, and self-assessment.

  • Face-to-face physiotherapist-supervised exercise programExisting treatment, for comparison

    Participants will be required to visit a physiotherapist for usual face-to-face exercise therapy. Also, they will be required to perform three 30-minute home exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks. However, TSP will not be involved in this group.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Development and Randomized Controlled Trial of an AI-powered Technological Surrogate Physiotherapist (TSP) Dedicated to Quality Enhancement and Cost Reduction in Knee Osteoarthritis Exercise Rehabilitation
Plain-language title
AI-guided exercise program compared with in-person physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritisGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
4 June 2026