BACKGROUND: Hemophilic arthropathy is caused by recurrent intra-articular bleeding, most commonly in the knee joints. In terms of physical impact, this arthropathy causes significant disability and hampers the physical activity and functionality of he affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study intended to examine the effect of a physical rehabilitation program incorporating Kinect-based virtual reality (KBVR) on gait characteristics, functional ability, and physical activity level in adolescents diagnosed with hemophilic knee arthropathy (HKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial, 56 boys, aged 10 to 14 years, with moderate HKA, were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group (n = 28) received conventional physical therapy (CPT), while the KBVR group (n = 52) received a 30-min KBVR exercise program in addition to the CPT. Training was conducted three times/week for 12 successive weeks. Gait characteristics (step length, cadence, velocity, peak knee extension moment during stance, and knee flexion amplitude during swing) were assessed using a gait analysis system, the functional ability was assessed through the 6-min walk test, and physical activity level assessed by the Adolescents' Physical Activity Questionnaire on the pre- and post-treatment occasions. RESULTS: The KBVR group achieved more favorable changes in the gait characteristics (step length (p = 0.015), cadence (p = 0.004), velocity (p = 0.024), peak knee extension moment during stance (p = 0.018), and Knee flexion amplitude during swing (p = 0.032)), functional capacity (p = 0.002), and physical activity levels (p = 0.007) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The use of KBVR exercises within a rehabilitation program is a potentially effective therapeutic option for the total care of adolescents with HKA.

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