A Feasibility Study of PSE-Based Auditory–Motor Mapping for Post-TKA Home Rehabilitation Design

Home-based rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) provides patients with the possibility of self-directed training under limited professional supervision, but its actual effect depends on whether patients can perceive, regulate, and complete lower-limb rehabilitation movements by themselves. This study explored a PSE-based auditory–motor mapping approach that translates lower-limb movement information into perceivable auditory cues to support patients’ perception and regulation of movement states. A design-oriented feasibility research process was adopted, including semi-structured interviews, non-participatory observation, thematic analysis, and a within-subject counterbalanced experiment. Joint-angle changes, movement phases, and effort-related movement information were mapped to pitch, rhythm, and loudness cues. In the experimental phase, a web-based functional prototype was used. Fifteen participants with knee pain performed three typical lower-limb training exercises in a simulated rehabilitation scenario, and auditory-cued and non-cued conditions were compared. The results indicated more favourable immediate movement-execution indicators and short-term subjective interaction outcomes under the auditory-cued condition. The Function-Behaviour-Structure framework was further applied to translate the preliminary interaction findings into a conceptual home-based rehabilitation interaction device. These findings provide preliminary support for exploring PSE-based auditory cueing in home rehabilitation interaction design, while further evaluation with actual post-TKA patients and real home-use contexts is still needed.