Improving Plantarflexor Muscle Function to Alleviate Decline in Mobility, Loss of Balance and Detrimental Knee Joint Loading in Older Adults
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
- Sponsor
- University of Eastern Finland
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change from baseline in knee joint loading
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study investigates the role of calf muscle function in gait performance, balance and knee joint loading.
Previous studies have linked age-related loss of calf muscle function with impairments in gait performance and balance, and increased loading of the areas of the knee joint that are susceptible to the development of osteoarthritis. In this study, an exercise intervention targeting structural and neural aspects of impaired calf muscle function with ageing is utilized. The intervention lasts 8 weeks and includes either biofeedback training using electromyography to alter muscle activation patterns or a combination of biofeedback training and strength training for the calf muscle to modify calf function during walking. The study will test whether the intervention improves walking speed, reduces the metabolic cost of walking, improves standing balance and reduces knee joint loading.
Investigators
Lauri Stenroth
Senior Researcher
University of Eastern Finland
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •age between 65 and 75
Exclusion Criteria
- •dependent living status
- •not able to walk without an assistive device or for 30 min without stopping
- •diagnosed neurological disease or joint disorder and pain during walking
- •surgery on lower extremities
- •current musculoskeletal injury
- •previous cardiovascular event or symptoms during exercise (acute ECG change, coronary disease, symptomatic arrhythmia, symptomatic coronary stenosis, heart failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarct, artery bulge or rupture risk)
- •body mass index \<18 or \>35 kg/m2
- •contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging
- •Mini Mental State Examination score of 23 points and lower
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change from baseline in knee joint loading
Time Frame: within 1 weeks after intervention
Change in tibiofemoral compressive loading during walking estimated using musculoskeletal modeling and simulation. Loading is calculated separately for medial and lateral compartments of the tibiofemoral joint.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change from baseline in muscle strength(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in joint moments during walking(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in walking speed(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in joint powers during walking(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in distribution of joint work during walking(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in energy cost of walking(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in Achilles tendon stiffness(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in standing balance(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in muscle-tendon function during walking(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in soleus to gastrocnemius muscle activation ratio(within 1 weeks after intervention)
- Change from baseline in gait kinematics(within 1 weeks after intervention)