The Effects of Home-Based Rehabilitation Treatments Among Persons With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

University of Zululand

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Other: KBA exercise; Other: Control group; Other: KBA and strength training; Other: strength training exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00735098

KneeOAExercise-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability and pain among adults. Recent evidence suggests that shorter exercise programs that incorporate kinesthesia, balance and agility (KBA) techniques may result in more rapid symptom relief and functional improvements in comparison to traditional therapeutic exercise. KBA techniques are designed to improve dynamic joint stability by using a series of activities which challenge balance and coordination. To determine the independent effects of KBA training on functional abilities, it is necessary to test it as a training program unto itself. The proposed clinical trial is designed to do this by using three training groups: KBA only; lower extremity strength training only; and a combination of the two. The total exercise time and intensity of each condition will be approximately equal. A non-exercise group will control for any effects related to the testing procedures and the passage of time. Community volunteer men and women age 50 and over with physician diagnosed symptomatic knee OA will participate.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 50 years or over of either gender
• Self-reported knee pain
• Physician diagnosed tibiofemoral OA, unilateral or bilateral, per ACR guidelines
• Demonstrated minimal knee OA related dysfunction per WOMAC score
• Not engaged in a regular leg exercise program for minimum of 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• High risk health status per (e.g.) ACSM guidelines
• Inability to obtain physician release for exercise
• Unresolved balance disorder
• Unresolved neurological disorder
• History of knee surgery or major knee trauma injury
• Hip or ankle instability, excessive weakness, surgery or major trauma injury
• Hip or knee replacement
• Intra-articular joint injection within 4 weeks of the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

44 participants in 4 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

KBA exercise protocol

Treatment:

Other: KBA exercise

2

Experimental group

Description:

strength training exercise protocol

Treatment:

Other: strength training exercise

3

Experimental group

Description:

KBA and strength training protocol

Treatment:

Other: KBA and strength training

4

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: Control group