Gait Modification and Knee Joint Load

Northwestern University12 enrolled

Overview

This pilot study aims to assess the effect of a 6-week individualized gait retraining program on knee load and symptoms in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

This study aims to pilot-test an individualized gait retraining intervention to reduce knee load, guided by real-time visual feedback of the external knee adduction moment (KAM), a commonly used determinant for medial tibiofemoral (TF) joint load, during walking. Our central hypothesis is that individuals with predominantly medial TF OA can adapt their gait patterns to lower KAM during walking; consequently, reduce knee load and pain.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis

Interventions

Gait modificationOTHER

Individualized gait modifications guided by real-time visual feedback of knee load

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 50 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * people with radiographic TF OA fulfilling American College of Rheumatology classification criteria * reporting average knee pain on walking \> 3 on an 11-point scale (0-10) in at least one knee * pain or tenderness predominantly located on the medial knee. Exclusion Criteria: * medial TF joint space width greater than lateral * Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade 4 * knee surgery or intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the past 6 months * uncomfortable walking on treadmill for 20 minutes * unable to walk without a walking aide * inflammatory arthritis * other musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that affect gait patterns * currently receiving physical therapy

Locations (1)

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

External knee adduction moment during walking

The external knee adduction moment during walking will be assessed using a10-camera optical motion capture system and force plates. A visual 3D program will be used to compute and plot the pre- and post-intervention external knee adduction moment during walking.

Time frame: Baseline-to-6-week change

WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) score

WOMAC questionnaire contains 24 questions in three domains of pain (score range 0-20), stiffness (score range 0-8) and physical function (score range 0-68). Higher score indicates worse symptom/function.

Time frame: Baseline-to-6-week change

Secondary Outcomes

External knee flexion moment during walking

The external knee flexion moment during walking will be assessed using a10-camera optical motion capture system and force plates. A visual 3D program will be used to compute and plot the pre- and post-intervention external knee flexion moment during walking.

Time frame: Baseline-to-6-week change

KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)

KOOS questionnaire contains 42 items in 5 domains of pain, other symptoms, function in daily living, function in sport and recreation, and knee-related quality of life. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with 0 representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no problems.

Time frame: Baseline-to-6-week change

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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