Proprioceptive Fatigue Adaptation in Osteoarthritis (PROFA-OA)

Kocaeli Sağlık ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Gonarthritis; Isokinetic Test; Osteoarthritis of Knee; Proprioception

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Fatigue Protocol + Joint Position Sense Testing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06972186

KOSTU-25-OA-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by isokinetic exercise on passive and active joint position sense in postmenopausal women diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis). A healthy control group matched for age and sex will also be included for comparative analysis. Participants will undergo proprioceptive assessments before and after an isokinetic fatigue protocol. We hypothesize that (1) fatigue will impair both passive and active joint position sense in patients with gonarthrosis, (2) active joint position sense will be more affected than passive sense, and (3) the deterioration in proprioception will be greater in the gonarthrosis group compared to healthy controls.

Full description

Osteoarthritis, particularly knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis), is a progressive musculoskeletal disease that severely affects lower extremity functions. Proprioceptive impairments in these patients can lead to altered motor control, reduced movement accuracy, and increased risk of falls. Fatigue may exacerbate these impairments by affecting sensory feedback from muscle spindles and joint receptors, which is critical for joint stability and motor control. In postmenopausal women, hormonal changes further compound muscle weakness and joint instability, highlighting the clinical importance of understanding proprioceptive changes following fatigue.

This experimental study will involve two groups: postmenopausal women with gonarthrosis and age-matched healthy controls. Participants will undergo an isokinetic fatigue protocol followed by assessments of passive and active joint position sense being more vulnerable. Understanding these changes will contribute to developing rehabilitation strategies focusing on proprioception and fatigue management.

We expect that isokinetic fatigue will impair proprioception, with active joint position

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 45 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female, aged 50-65
• Postmenopausal
• Grade 2-3 knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence Scale) for OA group
• No lower extremity surgery in the last 6 months
• No neuromuscular or orthopedic condition affecting the lower extremities

Exclusion criteria

• Severe balance disorders or vestibular disease
• Bilateral knee prosthesis or severe osteoporosis
• Lower extremity musculoskeletal injury in the last 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Healthy Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Age- and sex-matched postmenopausal women without knee pathology. Participants will perform the same passive and active joint position sense tests as the gonarthrosis group, before and after a control fatigue protocol using the Biodex system.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Fatigue Protocol + Joint Position Sense Testing

Gonarthrosis Group

Experimental group

Description:

Postmenopausal women aged 50-65 with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2-3 knee osteoarthritis. Participants will undergo an isokinetic fatigue protocol at 180°/s using a Biodex dynamometer. Passive and active joint position sense tests will be performed before and after fatigue.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Fatigue Protocol + Joint Position Sense Testing