feasibility of a wearable-enabled intervention for promoting physical activity in people knee oa

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis; Joint Diseases

Summary: physical activity is an essential first-line treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (oa). however, a 2013 systematic review found only 13% met the activity recommendation of 150 minutes or more per week. the primary goal of this pilot randomized controlled trail is to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multi-component intervention/model of care involving a group education session, use of the fitbit flex (a wireless physical activity tracking device), and weekly telephone counselling by a physiotherapist (pt) to improve physical activity and reduce sedentary time in patients with knee oa.

knee osteoarthritis (oa) is common (affecting 1 in 10), painful, and debilitating. being physically active improves pain, mobility and quality of life for people living with knee oa; however, less than half of patients are active. combining the best evidence in oa care and digital technology, the investigators propose a new model of care for improving physical activity in patients with oa. the investigators primary objective is to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multi-component model of care involving 1) a group education and structured goal-setting session, 2) the use of fitbit flex (a commercially available physical activity tracker) and 3) weekly telephone activity counselling by a physiotherapist for improving physical activity and reducing sedentary time in patients with knee oa. in this pilot randomized controlled trial the investigators hypothesize that compared to a control group (i.e. the delayed intervention group), participants in the immediate intervention group will 1) increase moderate/vigorous physical activity (mvpa), 2) reduce sedentary time, 3) improve oa disease status, and 4) improve abilities to self-manage their condition.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * have a physician confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis or are both 1) over 50, and 2) have experienced 4 weeks of pain, aching, or discomfort in or around the knee during the last year (equal to or more than 28 separate or consecutive days). * have no previous diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, connective tissue diseases, fibromyalgia or gout. * have no history of using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or gout medications. * have no prior knee replacement surgery, and not on a waiting list for total knee replacement surgery. * have no history of acute injury to the knee in the past 6 months. * have not had surgery in the back, hip, knee, foot or ankle joints in the past 12 months. * have an email address and daily access to a computer with internet connection. * be able to attend a 2-hour education session at the mary pack arthritis centre. exclusion criteria: * have a body mass index of equal to or greater than 40 * have received a steroid injection in a knee in the last 6 months * have received a hyaluronate injection in a knee in the last 6 months * use medication that may impair activity tolerance (e.g. beta blockers) * are at risk when exercising, as identified by the physical activity readiness questionnaire (par-q)

Keywords: physical activity exercise osteoarthritis knee arthritis