Gait Retraining for Runners with Knee Osteoarthritis

University of British Columbia

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Knee

Treatments: Behavioral: Gait retraining

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03314428

H17-01228

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 18 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 1 patient group

Gait retraining

Experimental group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Behavioral: Gait retraining