World Physiotherapy Day 2025: Custom Video Rehab Tool Empowers Clinicians to Support Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

This year’s theme for WPD, “the role of physiotherapy in healthy ageing”, aligns with Contura’s vision to offer non-surgical solutions for conditions traditionally managed with surgery, powered by its pioneering 2.5% iPAAG hydrogel technology. A prime example is Arthrosamid®, a minimally invasive, proven to be a safe and effective^1,2 to maintain a significant, long-lasting^3,4 reduction in pain for patients with knee OA 5 years after treatment.³ 

In the UK alone, around 350,000 people are diagnosed with OA annually,⁵ with 1 in 5 over 45 affected.⁶  Globally, 344 million people living with osteoarthritis experience severity levels (moderate or severe) that could benefit from rehabilitation.⁷ While OA cannot be cured, Contura believes that exercise plays a vital role in helping patients lead more active lives with reduced pain.  

Arthrosamid® Personalised Rehab Programme 

The new tool builds on Contura’s existing rehab programme, originally developed in partnership with two experienced physiotherapists. It enhances the offering by enabling clinicians to generate custom video-based plans tailored to individual fitness levels and recovery needs - making personalised rehabilitation more accessible and practical. 

Arthrosamid® Personalised Rehab Programme allows clinicians to adjust exercises to suit each patient’s activity level, offering comprehensive support throughout their recovery journey.

Clinicians can choose exercises from three levels:

• Beginners: minimal prior activity, higher discomfort
• Intermediate: some recent activity, lower discomfort
• Advanced: regular exercisers, including gym users

Each plan includes video explainers for exercises such as Sit to Stand, Split Squat, and Single Leg Glute Bridge, along with cardio guidance for walking and cycling. These can be completed at home, on holiday, or in a gym setting.

Charlie Goodchild, physiotherapist and co-creator of the rehab plan from healthcare business Better, comments:

“Knee osteoarthritis can be a difficult diagnosis to accept, with constant pain disrupting sleep, affecting daily movement and limiting participation in more intense sports. For active individuals, this loss of mobility can be frustrating and negatively impact mental health.

“There’s a common misconception that arthritic joints should be rested, but inactivity leads to weakening of muscles, tendons and cartilage. If you don’t use it, you lose it!

“While physiotherapists have the expertise to create rehab plans, time and technology constraints often limit their ability to provide personalised programmes. Many still rely on handwritten notes or basic printouts from ineffective exercise plan templates. Giving clinicians access to high-spec video content of high-quality rehab exercises via a customisable platform will lead to better treatment outcomes and more importantly less painful knees!”

Rakesh Tailor, CEO of Contura Orthopaedics Ltd, adds:

“We’re proud to be the pioneers of Arthrosamid®, a first-in-class synovial implant⁸ that’s redefining treatment for patients living with knee pain. Delivered as a single, minimally invasive outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia, it offers long-lasting relief backed by decades of research.

“Improvements in mobility and pain reduction are often seen within weeks, but post-treatment rehabilitation is essential to maintain these gains. On a personal note, having snapped my Achilles recently, I very much appreciate the need for a robust physio programme with any intervention. That’s why we’ve developed this new rehab tool – to help clinicians support patients beyond the injection.”

About Arthrosamid®

Arthrosamid® is a synovial implant⁸ delivered via a single, minimally invasive outpatient procedure under local anaesthesia with ultrasound guidance.⁹ It integrates into the knee joint lining, softening and increasing tissue elasticity—resulting in reduced stiffness and pain, and improved function.^2,9,11,12

^References:

^{1.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024). Effectiveness and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for knee osteoarthritis: results from a 12-month follow up of an open-label study. J Orthop Surg Res. Vol 19: 274.}

^{2.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024). Polyacrylamide gel versus hyaluronic acid for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Vol 42(9):1729-1735.}

^{3.Bliddal, H., et al. (2025) A Prospective Study of Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: Results From 5 Years After Treatment. Presented at WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2025.}

^{4.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024)  3 year follow-up from a randomized controlled trial of intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel injection in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Vol 32 (6): 770-771.Data on file}

^{5.Versus Arthritis: 2023 MSK State of Health report}

^{6.Versus Arthritis: birmingham-oa-1.pdf}

^{7.Cieza A, Causey K, Kamenow K, Wulf Hansen S, Chatterji S, Vos T. Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Dec 19; 396(10267): 2006–2017.}

^{8. Christensen, L., et al. (2016). Synovial incorporation of polyacrylamide hydrogel after injection into normal and osteoarthritic animal joints. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Vol 24(11):1999-2002. DOI:10.1016/j.joca.2016.07.007.}

^{9. Data on file}

^{10. Arthrosamid®, Instructions For Use. Release Date March 2022. 10082-003.}

^{11. Bliddal, H., et al. (2021) Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: A 6 Months Prospective Study. J Orthop Res Ther. Vol 6 (2). 1188. ISSN 2575-8241}

^{12.Henriksen, M., et al. (2018). Intra-articular 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: an observational proof-of-concept cohort study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Vol 36(6):1082-85. Epub 2018 Jul 18. PMID: 30148430}.