Revolutionising Knee Care: How MAI Motion’s Markerless Movement Analysis Brings Precision to Diagnosis and Treatment

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears are among the most common joint problems globally, affecting millions of people and putting significant strain on healthcare systems. While tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer important structural details, they often fail to capture how the knee behaves during real-life movement—an essential part of understanding these conditions. Without this insight, diagnosis can be delayed and treatment plans less tailored to the individual. MAI Motion is changing the landscape by introducing markerless movement analysis, an innovative digital health technology that captures detailed data on joint movement without using sensors or physical markers. In this article, we’ll show how MAI Motion is redefining knee care with a more precise and practical approach to diagnosis and management.

Advancements in Markerless Movement Analysis

Markerless movement analysis is a groundbreaking advancement that allows clinicians to accurately track joint movement without the need for wearable sensors or specialized equipment. Harnessing advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence, MAI Motion can monitor the way knees move during natural, everyday activities—revealing subtle changes in how a joint bends, bears weight, and generates force. These movement patterns, known as biomechanical biomarkers, offer critical insight into joint health and are supported by robust clinical research.

Unlike traditional motion capture systems—which require specialized laboratories and attach numerous sensors to the patient—MAI Motion works unobtrusively in real-world settings, making movement analysis more accessible and relevant to daily function. The system enables automatic extraction of clinically meaningful features from motion data, making it possible to generate objective reports quickly and cost-effectively. This helps healthcare providers identify changes in knee function, assess treatment success, and monitor disease progression in a real-world, clinically significant context.

Precision Diagnostics for Knee Osteoarthritis

Early detection of knee osteoarthritis is challenging, as initial functional changes in the joint often go unnoticed in standard imaging. MAI Motion bridges this diagnostic gap by analyzing authentic movement patterns that reveal the earliest signs of osteoarthritis —often before these are visible on an MRI. This real-time, functional perspective speeds up diagnosis and allows clinicians to track the progression of osteoarthritis over time. Regular movement assessments enable more personalized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs, helping to slow the disease’s progression and improve quality of life. The efficiency and accuracy of markerless analysis means clinicians can gather meaningful data with less effort and without sacrificing quality, making it a valuable addition to routine orthopaedic care.

Managing Meniscus Tears with Digital Health Technology

Meniscus tears are not only painful but can significantly restrict mobility and independence. Traditional rehabilitation often relies on subjective evaluation and standardized protocols that may not reflect individual patient progress. With MAI Motion, both clinicians and patients have access to objective, real-time insights about knee function during rehabilitation exercises. This data-driven approach enables treatment to be adjusted on the fly based on how the knee is truly performing, helping to optimize recovery and minimize the risk of re-injury. The adoption of digital health technologies like MAI Motion has been shown to increase patient engagement and lead to better rehabilitation outcomes—all while reducing the time and physical burden on the patient.

Conclusion

MAI Motion’s markerless movement analysis is transforming knee care by adding accuracy and personalization to the diagnosis and management of knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears. By providing detailed, real-time information on knee function, it enhances diagnosis, minimizes reliance on expensive imaging, and supports tailored rehabilitation plans. As digital health tools continue to advance, solutions like MAI Motion are poised to make knee treatment more effective, convenient, and patient-centered. The future of orthopaedic care is one where precision, usability, and innovation work together to put patients first.