Gait Retraining for Runners with Knee Osteoarthritis

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Interventions: Behavioral: Gait retraining

• Registration Number: NCT03314428
• Lead Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Brief Summary

Tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) is highly prevalent in older adults, and often causes symptoms and functional limitations. Physical activity is widely advocated in people with TFOA, and running is an easy and accessible activity that provides many benefits on general health. However, running induces high knee loads, which could potentially contribute to symptoms of runners with TFOA. Previous studies have suggested that running gait modifications can help in decreasing symptoms and knee loading in runners with knee conditions. Yet, no study has been conducted in runners with TFOA. This intervention study will investigate the effects of a 4-week running gait retraining program on symptoms and running biomechanics in runners with TFOA. We hypothesize that running modifications will decrease symptoms, improve function and reduce knee loading.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2017-10-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-10-17
• Study First Posted: 2017-10-19
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-03
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-05
• Study Start: 2025-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-07
• Study Completion: 2026-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 18

Inclusion Criteria

• TFOA of Grade 2 (mild) or 3 (moderate) on the Kellgren and Lawrence scale
• report knee pain greater than or equal to 3/10 on a numerical pain rating scale (0-10) during most days of the previous month
• run at least 10 km per week for a minimum of 6 months
• declare being comfortable running on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes

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Exclusion Criteria

• history of traumatic knee injury
• neurological or inflammatory arthritic condition
• cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease preventing from safely performing moderate intensity running
• presence of any lower limb condition affecting running (other than TFOA)
• use of any oral or injected corticosteroids or viscosupplementation in the previous six months
• regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics or knee unloading bracing devices before, during or after running
• non-English speaking

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Gait retraining	Gait retraining	Runners will be taught how to modify their running gait through multiple laboratory sessions and in-field training.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Peak knee adduction moment impulse change	Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months	Validated surrogate measure of knee joint loading during movement. Expressed as Nm/kg\*sec
Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) change	Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months	Validated questionnaire on symptoms and functional limitations related to knee osteoarthritis. The score is expressed in percentage (0-100), with 0 representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no knee problems.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Step rate change	Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months	Number of steps taken during one minute of running.
Peak knee flexion moment impulse change	Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months	Validated surrogate measure of knee joint loading during running. Expressed as Nm/kg\*sec
Numerical pain rating scale for pain during running change	Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months	Validated scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain), in which participants rate their worst level of pain during running over the previous week.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Robert H.N. Ho Research Centre; 🇨🇦 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada