digital knee osteoarthritis mindset intervention

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis

Summary: the aim of our clinical trial is to test if an online mindset intervention improves mindsets and physical activity levels more than an education intervention in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

osteoarthritis affects 7% of the global population and is a leading cause of disability globally. physical activity improves health outcomes, weight management, and knee function for people with knee osteoarthritis and should be considered first-line treatment. yet, physical activity levels in this population are low compared to those without knee osteoarthritis. existing knowledge: emerging research has highlighted the powerful influence of mindsets about exercise on engagement in physical activity. mindsets are core assumptions about a domain or category that orient individuals to a particular set of attributions, expectations, and goals (a "meaning system"). in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, mindsets about the appeal of physical activity relate to future physical activity levels and one's chosen symptom management strategy, and mindsets about osteoarthritis relate to knee symptoms. the investigators developed a digital mindset intervention to improve mindsets about exercise and osteoarthritis in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. the investigators piloted the intervention on 21 individuals with knee osteoarthritis throughout the united states. participants improved in exercise and osteoarthritis mindsets. however, this was a small sample size, a control group was not used, and it was cross-sectional, thus, not able to evaluate changes in physical activity and osteoarthritis symptoms. need for a trial: a digital, low-cost, and, thus, scalable intervention to improve mindsets about osteoarthritis and exercise may improve pain and function and physical activity levels for the millions of individuals affected with knee osteoarthritis. a large randomized trial is therefore needed to evaluate if our mindset intervention leads to improvements in physical activity levels and osteoarthritis symptoms and, further, if these changes are due to more adaptive mindsets about exercise and osteoarthritis.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * over 45 years of age * self-reported doctor's diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis or meets the national institute for - - health and care excellence osteoarthritis clinical criteria (activity-related knee pain and no knee morning stiffness lasting ≥ 30 minutes) * knee pain for at least 3 months * ability to walk unaided * can read and write in english * consistent internet access * willingness and ability to comply with the study requirements exclusion criteria: * past total knee arthroplasty or scheduled surgical procedure on any back or lower limb with osteoarthritis within the next 12 months * recent serious injury (within the past 2 months) on the knee(s) with osteoarthritis * any condition making it unsafe to participate in physical activity * intra-articular therapy within the past 6 months (e.g. injections such as corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid) * participates in physical exercise for 30 minutes or more 5 days per week

Keywords: mindset physical activity exercise psychology pain digital health osteoarthritis