Resistive Exercise for Arthritic Cartilage Health (REACH)

University of Sydney60 enrolled

Overview

Female subjects over the age of 40 will be recruited and randomised into a progressive resistance training (PRT) or sham-exercise group. The PRT group will train at 80% of their peak strength, using Keiser pneumatic resistance machines, and progress approximately 3% per session. Strength will be re-assessed fortnightly. Exercises will target muscles around the hip and knee. The sham-exercise group will train on the same equipment as the PRT group except hip adduction, but without added resistance or progression. Both groups will train 3 days per week for roughly 45 minutes for 6 months. It is hypothesised that high intensity PRT will decelerate the tibial and femoral cartilage degeneration in the knee affected most by OA. Primary Outcome: Articular cartilage morphology following 6 months high intensity progressive resistance training Secondary Outcomes: Muscle and fat cross-sectional area (CSA) (pre and post) Muscle strength, power, endurance, and contraction velocity (pre, 3 months, \& post) Medications (pre, 3 months, \& post) Body composition (pre, 3 months, \& post) Balance; Physical function (pre, 3 months, \& post) Questionnaires (pre, 3 months, \& post) * Habitual exercise (PASE) -WOMAC index (pain, stiffness and functional ability) * Depressive symptoms (Depression Scale) -Quality of life (SF36) * Confidence performing physical activity (Ewart) -Demographics

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Osteoarthritis

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 40 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Female * Aged over 40 years old * Primary Osteoarthritis in at least one knee using standard criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of clinical osteoarthritis * Ambulatory without human assistance * Willingness to be randomised to experiential or control group * Ability to attend scheduled exercise and testing sessions Exclusion Criteria: * Regular exercise of any kind over the past 3 months (\>1dpw). * Secondary osteoarthritis (traumatic or post-surgical), rheumatic disease, gouty or septic arthritis, Paget's disease, pseudogout, major congenital abnormalities, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease and other rare forms of arthritis * Joint injury, injection or surgery within the past 6 months or knee joint replacement * Contraindications to MRI/Exercise

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Articular cartilage morphology following 6 months high intensity progressive resistance training

Secondary Outcomes

Muscle and fat cross-sectional area (CSA) (pre and post)

Muscle strength, power, endurance, and contraction velocity (pre, 3 months, & post)

Medications (pre, 3 months, & post)

Body composition (pre, 3 months, & post)

Balance; Physical function (pre, 3 months, & post)

Questionnaires (pre, 3 months, & post):

Habitual exercise (PASE)

WOMAC index (pain, stiffness and functional ability)

Depressive symptoms (Depression Scale)

Quality of life (SF36)

Confidence performing physical activity (Ewart)

Demographics