Advancing Knee Care: How MAI Motion’s Markerless Digital Platform is Changing Diagnosis and Rehabilitation for Knee Osteoarthritis and Meniscus Tears

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears are common conditions that affect millions of people around the world, causing pain, stiffness, and limiting daily activities. Effectively managing these knee problems is a growing challenge for healthcare providers because of their widespread impact and the high costs of treatment. MAI Motion —a groundbreaking digital platform that uses markerless movement analysis—offers an innovative way to assess knee function . Unlike traditional methods, it doesn’t require invasive sensors or complicated equipment and can be used with just a camera or smartphone. In this article, we’ll look at how MAI Motion works, the research behind its effectiveness, and how it’s helping improve patient care. For context, about 19% of UK adults over 45 suffer from knee osteoarthritis , resulting in over £600 million in annual NHS costs. Meniscus tears add to this burden, with global costs approaching $4 billion each year for surgeries and rehabilitation.

The Growing Impact of Knee Osteoarthritis and Meniscus Tears on UK Healthcare

Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of long-term disability among adults over 45 in the UK. Each year, the NHS performs over 90,000 knee replacements, costing about £7,000 per procedure and adding up to more than £600 million every year. Meniscus tears —where the cartilage in the knee is damaged—affect many more people and often go undiagnosed or untreated. Globally, the costs of managing meniscus tears reach around $4 billion a year through surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation. These staggering figures highlight the urgent need for smarter, more efficient ways to diagnose and manage knee disorders . This is where digital health technologies like MAI Motion come in, offering faster and more accessible knee assessments that can help relieve pressure on healthcare systems and support better care decisions.

What is Markerless Movement Analysis—and How Does MAI Motion Work?

Traditional movement analysis often requires patients to wear reflective markers or sensors, making the process time-consuming and sometimes uncomfortable. Markerless movement analysis, the technology behind MAI Motion , eliminates these barriers. Using a basic camera—or even a smartphone— MAI Motion captures video of a person moving and applies advanced artificial intelligence to analyse their joint movements and create a biomechanical profile.

A key test used by MAI Motion is the sit-to-stand (STS) movement, where patients stand up from a chair multiple times. While many systems use five repetitions, MAI Motion has streamlined this protocol, requiring only three. Research shows that this shorter test provides equally reliable results, reduces fatigue, and is easier for patients to complete. Markerless technology also captures movement that’s more natural, as there are no physical markers to restrict or alter how someone moves. This makes MAI Motion easy to use in clinics or as a remote self-assessment at home, making digital health practical for day-to-day care.

Understanding Knee Health Through Movement Biomarkers

MAI Motion analyses video data to produce ‘motion-based biomarkers.” These are measurable features extracted from someone’s movement—like the smoothness of their motion or the acceleration of their joints during a simple squat or when standing up. These objective markers work a bit like vital signs, offering valuable insight into knee health .

Research demonstrates that movement biomarkers can clearly distinguish between the way people with knee osteoarthritis move and healthy controls. This means MAI Motion can catch subtle but meaningful changes in how someone moves—changes that might otherwise go unnoticed. Clinicians receive clear, easy-to-understand reports that help them make more accurate diagnoses and track patient progress over time.

How MAI Motion Integrates Into Knee Care and Rehabilitation

MAI Motion is designed to integrate seamlessly into regular healthcare routines. At an appointment, a patient does standardised tests—like sit-to-stand and squats—while being recorded. The streamlined three-repetition method keeps testing quick, simple, and less tiring for patients. Research supports that markerless systems are well-suited to clinical environments and effective at capturing natural movement data.

The results can help clinicians—including physiotherapists and surgeons—track how patients respond to treatment or rehabilitation . MAI Motion also enables remote assessment: patients record their movements at home and upload them securely to their healthcare team. This is particularly valuable for tele- rehabilitation , reducing travel time and hospital visits, while keeping patients engaged in their recovery. It’s a great example of how digital health can improve both accessibility and the quality of care for knee problems .

The Future of Knee Care with Digital Health

Looking ahead, platforms like MAI Motion could transform knee care even further. Imagine integrating MAI Motion with gamified rehabilitation apps, which make exercises more fun and motivating for patients by turning therapy into a game. As MAI Motion collects more data, AI can learn to predict how conditions like knee osteoarthritis may progress—allowing for truly personalised care plans.

By connecting MAI Motion to electronic health records and virtual consultations, we can create a more joined-up healthcare system, improving communication between patients and providers. Digital health tools like MAI Motion are opening the door to more accessible, data-driven, and engaging knee care —shifting the focus to prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term wellness.

Conclusion

Knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears pose major challenges to both patients and the healthcare system. MAI Motion ’s markerless digital platform is introducing a modern, research-backed way to measure knee movement —offering reliable, non-invasive assessments that can be done in the clinic or at home. With its ability to support accurate diagnosis , track rehabilitation , and enable remote care, MAI Motion is at the forefront of a digital health revolution in musculoskeletal medicine. As these tools continue to evolve, they promise more personalised, accessible, and effective treatment for knee conditions—ultimately helping people move better and live better.