Introduction: The Role of MAI Motion in Long-Term Knee Care
Knee osteoarthritis is on the rise in the UK, with over 90,000 knee replacements performed annually and NHS costs exceeding £600 million each year. Meeting this growing need calls for more than just one-off interventions—it requires a focus on long-term care to help people maintain joint health and stay active. Enter MAI Motion : an innovative, marker-less motion capture platform that makes ongoing movement assessment both easy and accessible. MAI Motion can be used seamlessly at home or in clinics, and unlike traditional systems, it does not require sensors or body markers.
By encouraging regular use, MAI Motion becomes part of patients’ everyday lives—turning movement monitoring into a simple, sustainable habit rather than an occasional task. In this article, we’ll explore two key areas: how to make retesting protocols more comfortable and accurate for patients, and how to empower individuals to use MAI Motion data to take charge of their knee health.
Optimising Re-Test Protocols: Evidence for a Three-Repetition STS Approach
The sit-to-stand (STS) test is a quick check of lower limb strength, balance, and mobility—essential measures for managing knee pain and function. Traditionally, the test requires five repetitions, but for many, especially older adults or those with discomfort, this can be challenging.
Recent research compared the standard five-repetition approach to a shorter three-repetition version using MAI Motion ’s camera-based system. The study involved 20 participants and found little difference in joint angles and measurement consistency between the two versions. In other words, three repetitions provided data just as reliable as five, while reducing effort and strain for users. Notably, participants also reported that three repetitions were less tiring, making the protocol more suitable for both clinic and home use.
This streamlined 3× STS test is ideal for routine home monitoring. To gain the most benefit, it’s recommended that patients repeat the test on a regular, weekly schedule. This steady routine ensures reliable tracking while minimizing discomfort or fatigue.
Self-Management Strategies: Building a Data-Driven Routine
With MAI Motion ’s smartphone app, anyone can easily perform the 3× STS test at home, putting control of knee health directly in patients’ hands. Sticking to a regular schedule—say, every Monday morning—helps maintain consistency and keeps the habit going strong.
Each assessment creates a feedback loop: after completing the test, patients can review their results and see progress visualized right in the app. This ongoing process, known as periodic review, helps patients notice improvements or setbacks and adjust their technique if needed.
Integrating the test into an established routine—like right after breakfast—makes it easier to remember and sustain. By connecting habit formation, regular cadence, and personalized data review, patients build a practical, data-informed approach to supporting their knees over the long term.
Integrating Academic Insights: Understanding Biomechanical Variability
It’s natural for measurements of joint movement—especially at the knee, hip, and ankle—to change slightly from day to day. MAI Motion ’s AI-powered software is designed to recognize the difference between meaningful changes and random fluctuations, so the insights provided truly reflect a patient’s progress.
Current research supports this approach: marker-less, camera-based motion capture enables clinicians to access detailed movement data without the need for bulky or uncomfortable equipment. This makes the process more representative of natural, everyday movement.
Looking to the future, MAI Motion aims to make movement capture even more accessible by using standard mobile phone cameras, and will expand its assessments to include other important tasks like squats and single-leg balance. This broader range of tests will provide a more complete picture of knee function.
Research suggests that even a 10-degree change in knee movement could provide valuable insights into a person’s walking pattern or gait, underscoring how MAI Motion ’s detailed feedback can support ongoing monitoring. Comparing patient results with clinical standards ensures accurate, relevant insights—a critical part of effective periodic review.
New evidence also shows that the 3× STS protocol produces biomechanical data comparable to the traditional 5× approach, solidifying it as a practical and less burdensome alternative for long-term knee monitoring .
Practical Implementation: From Clinic to Home
Transitioning MAI Motion from the clinic to the home is straightforward and collaborative:
- Establish a baseline: The first 3× STS test is performed under clinical supervision to set a personalized reference point.
- Set a weekly schedule: Patients commit to regular, at-home re-tests, with helpful reminders from the app.
- Review results together: Patients and clinicians review the weekly data during telehealth or in-person visits and make any needed adjustments.
- Hold monthly check-ins: Regular reviews allow for tweaks to the exercise routine based on progress.
Clinicians can adapt this approach for individuals with varying needs, such as those with osteoarthritis or muscle weakness, to maximize both safety and benefit. This process not only encourages healthy routines but also builds confidence and engagement by putting patients at the centre of their care.
Conclusion: Towards Sustainable Knee Health
In summary, the simplified 3× STS protocol powered by MAI Motion offers a comfortable, effective way to monitor knee health over time. Pairing this with a routine built around consistent feedback and regular review empowers both patients and clinicians to make informed decisions and track progress confidently.
By weaving MAI Motion into knee health plans, patients are encouraged to develop healthy habits that stick. With ongoing advances and integration into broader rehabilitation programs, MAI Motion holds strong promise for truly personalized knee care —guided by the latest research and real-world feedback.
This article is based on recent studies demonstrating the accuracy, usability, and clinical value of MAI Motion for knee health assessment .
References
- Armstrong, K., Wen, Y., Zhang, L., Ye, X., & Lee, P. (2022). Novel Clinical Applications of Marker-less Motion Capture as a Low-cost Human Motion Analysis Method in the Detection and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Journal of Novel Physiotherapies, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-7921.2022.11.053
- Wen, Y., Verma, T., Whitehead, J. P., & Lee, P. (2025). Empirical Validation of a Streamlined Three-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Protocol Using MAI Motion. Applied Sciences, 15(10), 5688. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105688