Hemophilia is a congenital coagulopathy characterized by a deficiency of one of the clotting factors. It is characterized by the development of hematomas and hemarthrosis, either spontaneously or after minor trauma. The recurrence of hemarthroses leads to progressive and degenerative joint damage from childhood (hemophilic arthropathy). This arthropathy is characterized by disabling physical effects that limit the functionality and quality of life of these patients. Medical progress achieved over the last decade in the drug treatment of hemophilia has improved the medium and long-term prospects of patients with more effective and long-lasting drugs. The universal use of safer, more effective and prolonged prophylactic treatments may promote the prevention of bleeding, and also therefore, of the development of hemarthrosis and joint damage. A number of imaging instruments have been developed for the assessment of hemarthrosis and hemophilic arthropathy, using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and simple radiology. Different physical examination scores and questionnaires allow the assessment of joint health, self-perceived activity and functionality of patients with hemophilia. The approach to these patients should be interdisciplinary. Assessment of the processes that affect pain in these patients and the development of pain education models should be implemented. Expert advice and information to patients with hemophilia should be based on individual functional prevention diagnoses, advice on available therapies and sports practice, as well as health recommendations.

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Background Hemophilic ankle arthropathy is manifested by degenerative functional alterations and chronic pain. Myofascial release techniques are used to treat soft tissue adhesions, relieve pain, and reduce tissue sensitivity. Objective This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a protocol using self-myofascial release with a foam roller to be applied in patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Methods Patients with ankle arthropathy (N=70) will be recruited, enrolled, and assigned to one of two groups—experimental or control—in a 1:1 allocation ratio. Patients will be recruited from 5 centers in different regions of Spain. Patient data will be collected at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up. The primary outcome will be frequency of ankle joint bleeding (self-reported). The secondary outcomes will be ankle range of motion (measured with a digital goniometer); joint pain (measured with a visual analog scale and an algometer); joint status (measured using the Hemophilia Joint Health Score); muscle strength (measured with a dynamometer); functionality of lower limbs (measured using the 6-minute walking test); activity (self-reported); and muscle flexibility (measured using the fingertip-to-floor test). The treatment program includes 11 exercises that must be administered bilaterally. A mobile app will be developed where each patient will be able to observe the exercises to be carried out. Each session will last 15 minutes with 5 physiotherapy sessions per week for a period of 3 months. It is expected that patients with hemophilia who receive the foam roller intervention will show improvement in mobility, pain, and status of the ankle joint; muscle strength; and function in the lower extremities. Results The study has been approved by the institutional review board of the University of Murcia. Patient recruitment will begin in September 2020, and the intervention period will last until June 2021. Data collection will take place between September 2020 and October 2021. Conclusions This protocol describes a randomized clinical trial to examine the safety and efficacy of a self-myofascial release intervention using a foam roller in patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03914287; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03914287. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/15612

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