Childhood obesity is one of the most critical and accelerating health challenges throughout the world. It is a major risk factor for developing varus/valgus misalignments of the knee joint. The combination of misalignment at the knee and excess body mass may result in increased joint stress and damage to articular cartilage. A training programme, which aims at developing a more neutral alignment of the trunk and lower limbs during movement tasks may be able to reduce knee loading during locomotion. Despite the large number of guidelines for muscle strength training and neuromuscular exercises that exists, most are not specifically designed to target the obese children and adolescent demographic. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a training programme which combines strength and neuromuscular exercises specifically designed to the needs and limitations of obese children and adolescents and analyse the effects of the training programme from a biomechanical and clinical point of view.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
48
12 weeks strength and neuromuscular exercise programme for the lower extremity
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Overall peak external frontal knee moment and impulse
Assessed by 3D gait analysis during walking
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical examination
Changes of function and strength of the targeted muscle groups will be assessed by a physical therapist. Therefore, a hand-dynamometer to investigate differences in muscle strength will be used.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
The Austria-German version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score will be used to assess the participants' opinion about their knee.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Gait pattern
Kinematics and external joint moments for the sagittal and frontal plane for hip, knee and ankle joints as well as spatio-temporal parameters will be assessed by 3D gait analysis during walking and stair climbing.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Adherence to the training programme
Adherence will be considered as the percentage of actually completed sessions during the intervention period among the number of intended exercise sessions.
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention (12 weeks)
Ratings of knee related pain
Ratings of knee related pain will be assessed using a 7-point ordinal scale.
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention (12 weeks)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.