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Nordic Walking for Individuals With Osteoporosis, Vertebral Fracture or Hyperkyphosis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hyperkyphosis
Osteoporosis
Vertebral Fracture
Interventions
Behavioral: Nordic Walking exercise
Registration Number
NCT03885466
Lead Sponsor
University of Saskatchewan
Brief Summary

Nordic walking is currently offered by a number of health care practitioners as a form of exercise therapy for older adults at risk of fracture. These include older individuals with osteoporosis, previous vertebral fracture, or hyperkyphosis. To the investigators knowledge, this practice is not evidence-based and thus potentially problematic as benefits and safety of Nordic walking for individuals with osteoporosis, fractures, or hyperkyphosis are unknown. The proposed study will answer the following principal question: Does Nordic walking improve mobility, physical function, posture, and quality of life for ambulant community dwelling individuals who have osteoporosis, a history of osteoporotic fracture, or hyperkyphosis? Participants will be randomized into either the Nordic walking intervention group, or the waiting-list control group. Participants will initially train 3 times per week for 3 months, led by peer- and/or student-instructors. The Nordic walking training will depend on the participant's skill and comfort level and will consist of walking with poles over a distance set individually for each participant. The control group will receive the same 3-month Nordic walking intervention after their control follow-up measurements are completed.

Detailed Description

The investigators will include 160 individuals who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, have history of osteoporotic fracture or hyperkyphosis (hunched-back posture). Participants will be randomized to either a Nordic walking intervention group or a waiting-list control group (the latter group will receive same intervention after the trial is completed). The pole-walking intervention will be 12 weeks in duration, including 3 weekly Nordic walking sessions (warm up, Nordic walking with posture and leg strengthening exercises and stretches) tailored to each participants. The investigators will define osteoporosis status at baseline (via DXA scans). The investigators will compare between group changes in dynamic balance, posture, quality of life, mobility, muscle strength, size and composition (using low radiation CT scans) after 3 months of Nordic walking intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
117
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Nordic walkingNordic Walking exerciseNordic walking exercise intervention, 3 times per week over 12 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life score5-10 minutes

Assessed by 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Survey consists of 36 questions with 8 sub-scales: Physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. Responses range from 1-6 and are scored according to a key that values each answer from 0-100, where higher values are better outcomes. The average score of each sub-scale is recorded.

Kyphosis angle2-3 minutes

Assessed using kyphometer

Functional balance3-5 minutes

Assessed by timed up and go test (TUG)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Muscle strength2-4 minutes

Assessed by sit-to-stand test

Kyphosis angle3-5 minutes

Assessed by flexicurve

Fear of falling2-5 minutes

Assessed by the 10-item falls efficacy scale. Scale consists of 10 questions with responses ranging from 1 (not confident at all) to 10 (very confident). Higher values are better outcomes. Sub-scale values are summed and total value is recorded.

Mobility16-20 minutes

Assessed by 6-minute walking test

Proximal femur bone mineral density (g/cm^2)10-20 minutes

Assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Physical activity7 days

Recording minutes of physical activity using Actigraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer monitoring

Bone and muscle properties and estimated bone strength of the lower leg and forearm20-30 minutes

Assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT)

Total body lean tissue mass (g)10-20 minutes

Assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Physical activity exercise confidence2-5 minutes

Assessed by the Exercise self-efficacy scale. Scale consists of 10 questions with responses ranging from 1 (not confident at all) to 7 (very confident). Higher values are better outcomes. Sub-scale values are summed and total value is recorded.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Saskatchewan

🇨🇦

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

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