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Knee Brace and Biomechanical Footwear in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Osteoarthritis,Knee
Interventions
Device: Biomechanical footwear device
Other: Home-based exercise
Device: Knee brace
Registration Number
NCT03684850
Lead Sponsor
Central Finland Hospital District
Brief Summary

This study investigates the effects of unloader knee brace, biomechanical footwear device and exercise therapy on pain, physical function and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The aim is to find more effective treatment strategies to delay or prevent heavy knee replacement surgeries.

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exercising, and using a knee brace and exercising, and using of biomechanical footwear device on clinically important symptoms, physical function and quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The hypothesis is that the groups of using knee brace and biomechanical footwear can alleviate pain, improve physical function and quality of life more efficiently, than the group doing home exercises only.

The subjects (n = 120) will be randomized into three groups mentioned above, after which they will start to do exercises, or to use a knee brace and do exercises, or to use biomechanical footwear at home according to the instructions for 4 months. Physical function, symptoms and quality of life will be measured before and after 4-month intervention. In addition, at 12-month time point follow-up surveys will be addressed with regard to symptoms and quality of life, as well as to cost-effectiveness of the study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
120
Inclusion Criteria
  • moderate or severe knee pain (>40mm on a VAS scale 0-100mm)
  • radiographic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1-3)
  • age between 45 and 70 years
Exclusion Criteria
  • inflammatory joint disease
  • acute (<6 months) knee trauma
  • arthroscopic surgery in the past six months
  • a planned knee replacement surgery or other planned surgical treatment of the knee
  • knee injections in the past 3 months
  • superficial wounds at the knee area
  • arterial insufficiency
  • severe varicosities
  • impaired vision
  • postural difficulties
  • body-mass index (BMI) >35kg/m2
  • fibromyalgia
  • rheumatoid arthritis or other active rheumatoid inflammatory disease.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Footwear device groupBiomechanical footwear device(n = 40)
Exercise therapy groupHome-based exercise(n = 40)
Knee brace and exercise groupKnee brace(n = 40)
Knee brace and exercise groupHome-based exercise(n = 40)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline Pain intensity at 4 months: VAS4 months

Visual Analog Scale for Pain (score of 100 mm). No pain (score of 0), worst imaginable pain (score of 100).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline clinical symptoms at 4 months.4 months

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)-questionnaire evaluates the condition of patients with knee osteoarthritis including pain, stiffness and physical function. In the subscale of pain (score range 0 - 500), stiffness (score range 0 - 200), and functional limitation (score range 0 - 1700) lower values represent a better outcome. In order to normalize each score on 0 - 100 scales, the following correction factors are used: pain 0.20, stiffness 0.50, functional limitation 0.059.

Change from baseline Health-Related Quality of Life at 4 months: SF-364 months

The SF-36-Item Health Survey measures Health-Related Quality of Life. The SF-36 is a multi-item scale assessing eight health concepts: 1) limitations in physical activities, 2) limitations in social activities, 3) limitations in usual role activities, 4) bodily pain, 5) general mental health, 6) limitations in usual role activities, 7) vitality, and 8) general health perceptions, with scores for each dimensions ranging from 0 (poor health) to 100 (good health).

Change from baseline isometric knee extension and flexion forces at 4 months.4 months

Will be measured with dynamometer

Change from baseline walking speed gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Walking speed (cm/sec) will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline cadence gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Cadence (steps per minute) will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline stride length gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Stride length, i.e., the distance between 2 successive placement of the same foot (cm) will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline step length gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Step length, i.e., the distance measured from the heel point of one foot to the heel point of the other foot (cm) will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline stance time and % stance gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Stance time (sec) and % stance will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline swing time and % swing gait parameter at 4 months.4 months

Swing time (sec) and % swing will be measured by the instrumented walkway system (GAITRite mat).

Change from baseline 40 m Fast-paced Walk Test at 4 months.4 months

A fast-paced walking test that is timed over 4 x 10m for a total 40 m

Change from baseline Stair Ascend/Descend Test at 4 months.4 months

The time (sec) it takes to ascend and descend a flight of stairs. The total time to ascend and descend steps (negative number indicates better performance) will be recorded and reported

Change from baseline 30s Timed Chair Stand Test at 4 months.4 months

The maximum number of chair stand repetitions possible in a 30 second period. The total number of chair stands (up and down equals one stand) completed in 30 seconds will be reported.

Change from baseline knee range of movement at 4 months.4 months

Will be measured with goniometer

Change from baseline physical activity at 4 months.4 months

The short form of International Physical Activity (IPAQ-SF) questionnaire measures data on Health-Related Physical Activity. The IPAQ-SF Records the activity of four intensity levels (vigorous-intensity, moderate-intensity, walking, sitting) for the last 7 days. Results are reported as a continuous variable (MET minutes a week). To calculate MET minutes a week the MET value given (walking = 3.3, moderate activity = 4, vigorous activity = 8) is multiplied by the minutes the activity was carried out and again by the number of days that the activity was undertaken. To get total MET minutes of physical activity a week, the MET minutes achieved in each category are added together. Higher MET-values represent better outcome.

Change from baseline cost-utility at 4 months.4 months

Will be measured with the items of the SF-6D questionnaire, which in turn can be converted from the items of the SF-36 questionnaire. The SF-6D score varies from 0 to 1, 0 representing worst health cost-utility and 1 best health utility.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Central Finland Central Hospital

🇫🇮

Jyväskylä, Finland

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