ACL, Total Knees and Muscle Atrophy: Progress!

DJO Global, Inc. has announced the launch of the Empi Phoenix, an electrical stimulator designed to help simplify treatment of muscle atrophy before and after surgery for total knee replacement or ACL (anterior cruciate ligment) repair. The product, which has FDA 510(k) clearance, combats disuse atrophy, increases range of motion, and helps manage pain and reduce swelling. The device can even help prepare patients prior to surgery by helping to treat muscle atrophy in the muscles supporting the joint.

“This new method of delivering neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to my patients is comparable to standard physical therapy in helping them recover from knee replacement surgery, ” noted Dr. Michael Levine in the July 11, 2013 news release. Dr. Levine is an orthopedic surgeon and lead researcher of a recent clinical trial on the effectiveness of electrical muscle stimulation post-operatively. He added, “When combined with traditional physical therapy, the Empi Phoenix creates an excellent scenario for recovering patients.”

Anthony Strike, Market Manager of Electrotherapy, told OTW:

“DJO Global’s Empi Phoenix is a multi-functional electrotherapy device that utilizes neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to treat muscle disuse atrophy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain management, and a pulsed net direct current for edema treatment. Addressing atrophy, pain and swelling is key to rehab from major knee surgeries, and the Empi Phoenix is designed to offer treatment across the recovery cycle.”

“The Empi Phoenix has four pre-programmed therapy options built into the easy-to-use device, simplifying electrotherapy for clinicians and patients and eliminating the need to cycle through countless steps to adjust the device. The therapy is delivered through electrodes on the skin. The comfortable Empi Phoenix conductive garment makes application of NMES easy by simplifying electrode placement.”

“Despite the benefits electrotherapy offers patients rehabilitating from a major orthopedic surgery like a total knee replacement or ACL repair, many surgeons have typically shied away from prescribing this therapy as a standard part of rehab because of the complexity of previous devices. Others are just not as familiar with the studies and potential benefits to their patients’ rehabilitation.”

Mike Mogul, president and CEO, told OTW, “Phoenix was designed to offer a simple therapy option that would be convenient enough for orthopedic surgeons to start feeling comfortable prescribing it directly to their patients for home use. The device is essentially ‘turn on, turn up.’ The garment further simplifies the process with its pre-set electrode placements. Even the paperwork has been simplified, and Empi can deliver the product to the patient directly and take care of all customer support. This simplicity, combined with the positive clinical support for electrotherapy and lack of negative side effects makes the Empi Phoenix well-suited to break through as an excellent new tool for healthcare professionals to prescribe as part of their patients’ rehab.”