Physical Activity, Knee Joint Loading and Joint Health

University of Bath80 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity and markers of cartilage metabolism in the years following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Participants attend the laboratory on two or three occasions and wear accelerometers for the 10 days in between the first and second laboratory session. The first laboratory session involves urine sample collection, the completion of questionnaires, blood sample collection, acquisition of cross-sectional images of the thigh and calf, and a whole-body composition scan. The researchers will use the accelerometers at the wrist to measure time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity, and the accelerometers at the ankle as an analogue for knee joint loading. The second laboratory session will consist of a 30-minute run on an instrumented treadmill (measures force of each step taken) whilst wearing non-invasive reflective markers, electromyography devices, and an accelerometer at the ankle. Participants are also invited to undergo optional repeated blood sampling to measure levels of markers of cartilage production and breakdown during rest and in response to a 30-minute run. If participants volunteer for the optional repeated blood sampling, they will be asked to attend a third laboratory session where blood samples will be taken at 24 hours after the run in the second laboratory session.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 39 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18-39 years old (i.e., ≥18 and \<40 years old) 2. Had an anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction 1-7 years ago (i.e., ≥1 and ≤7 years ago) 3. Can have sustained damage to meniscus or cartilage, or sustained bone bruising when injured anterior cruciate ligament 4. Can participate regardless of the type of reconstruction surgery and if undergone meniscectomy 5. Completed anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction rehabilitation and either a surgeon, doctor or physiotherapist has provided clearance to participate in physical activity 6. Be able to attend the University of Bath within 2 hours of waking Exclusion Criteria: 1. Had another significant knee injury either before, at the same time, or after the anterior cruciate ligament injury (e.g., if they injured another ligament in their knee or had a fracture or dislocation) 2. Injured the anterior cruciate ligament in both knees (bilateral ACL injury) 3. Have/are experiencing a musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, metabolic or neurological disease or disorder 4. Under 18 or over 39 (i.e., ≥40) years of age 5. Body Mass Index ≥40 kg/m² 6. Pregnancy 7. Positive responses to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (aside from any involved knee joint issues)

Locations (1)

University of Bath

Bath, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Ratio of urine concentration of c-telopeptide of type II collagen to serum concentration of c-propeptide of type II procollagen

Urine concentration of c-telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTX-II) is a marker of cartilage degradation. Serum concentration of c-propeptide of type II procollagen (sCP-II) is a marker of cartilage synthesis. The ratio between these two biomarkers as an indicator of knee joint health has previously been validated.

Time frame: Day 1

Secondary Outcomes

Urine concentration of c-telopeptide of type II collagen

Urine concentration of c-telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTX-II) is a marker of cartilage degradation.

Time frame: Day 1

Serum concentration of c-propeptide of type II procollagen

Serum concentration of c-propeptide of type II procollagen (sCP-II) is a marker of cartilage synthesis.

Time frame: Day 1

Time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity

Time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity will be measured using GENEActiv accelerometers worn on the wrist. The devices have previously been validated to quantify physical activity domains.

Time frame: Day 3-10

Step count

Step count will be measured using GENEActiv accelerometers.

Time frame: Day 3-10

Knee joint reaction force

Knee joint reaction force will be measured using musculoskeletal modelling in OpenSim. We will use 3D motion capture to measure joint kinematics, an instrumented treadmill to measure ground reaction forces, and electromyography devices to measure muscle activation.

Time frame: Day 11

Central Contacts

Karl Morgan, MSc

CONTACT

(0)7853220282 kdm40@bath.ac.uk

Jean-Philippe Walhin, PhD

CONTACT

(0)1225386478 jpw23@bath.ac.uk

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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