An Innovative Mind-motor Exercise Approach to Osteoarthritis Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing burden in an aging society. There are few proven treatments and hence disability contributes to poor quality of life and direct/indirect costs to society. OA symptoms include both increased pain and reduced mobility. Strength training and aerobic exercise has been shown to improve symptoms in OA; however, the impact of targeted mobility and balance training in patients with osteoarthritis is unclear. The investigators propose a novel, low-impact exercise modality that improves balance and gait. The results of this research project should improve patient options and improve knowledge in OA management.

Detailed Description
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Patients with OA have increased fall risk, which can lead to reduced mobility and curtailment of daily activities. Patients with OA also show varied and altered mobility in a sit-to-stand test, suggesting that both poor lower limb strength and flexibility need to be addressed with targeted interventions in this population. Altered mobility is also associated with pain in patients with OA. The cause of decreased mobility and increased pain is often a result of body weight. In a 5-year follow-up study, classes of knee OA were identified as being associated with good, moderate or poor outcomes; characteristics of the poor outcomes class included high BMI, worse pain, >2 co-morbidities and avoidance of activities. Avoidance of activities is a particularly important outcome since this could lead to a downward spiral of decreased physical functioning, falls and further avoidance of activities. Multiple studies have shown that increasing weight from normal to overweight or obese decreases mobility and increases pain in individuals with OA. This is a potential target for non-pharmacological therapies. For example, Messier et al., showed that a diet and exercise intervention designed to promote weight loss in overweight individuals with knee OA, improved knee compressive forces and function, reduced inflammatory marker IL-6, decreased pain and improved physical health-related quality of life over an 18-month period. This study demonstrated the important effects of weight loss and exercise on knee OA for overall health. In a recent review, the evidence was overwhelming regarding the use of exercise as a treatment of knee OA. Specifically, the literature demonstrates that strength training and aerobic exercise can improve outcomes, such as pain reduction and increased function, in patients with OA. Lifestyle interventions should be utilized in OA populations to help reduce pain, improve mobility and reduce fall risk. Square-Stepping Exercise (SSE) was developed is a low-tech, low-intensity, novel form of exercise developed in Japan. SSE was originally designed to reduce fall risk in older adults. Participants watch, recognize, memorize and follow increasingly more difficult step patterns, which an instructor demonstrates on a 4 by 10 square-patterned mat. In older adult populations, Shigematsu and colleagues have found that SSE improves overall fitness and lower extremity functioning, as well as reduces fall risk, when compared to walking programs or strength and balance training. In combination with Shigematsu's research in Japan in healthy older adults, the investigators are aiming to provide a significant evidence base for SSE internationally and within varied populations, including older adults with osteoarthritis. In collaboration with Dr. Shigematsu, the investigators have executed SSE studies at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging in London, ON and most recently in Woodstock, ON. Preliminary evidence from our study at the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging showed that over a 3-month training period, participants in our Exercise-Intervention (E-I) group (involving mind-motor exercise) improved their total balance scores, compared to an Exercise-Control (E-C) group. SSE has not been tested in the OA population. This pilot study will add to the literature to determine whether it reduces pain and improves mobility as an additional non-pharmacological treatment for this population.

Official Title
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An Innovative Mind-motor Exercise Approach to Osteoarthritis Treatment

Conditions
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Knee Osteoarthritis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Square-stepping exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Knee osteoarthritis Exclusion Criteria: WOMAC less than 4 Use of braces Uncontrolled hypertension Significant psychiatric or psychotic disorder Not able to attend 75% of sessions Any other reason that would prevent participation

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 40 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Square-stepping exercise Intervention<br>Participant attend sessions 2 times per week for 24-weeks at a community location. An instructor demonstrated increasingly difficulty walking or stepping patterns across a gridded mat and participants are asked to try and remember and repeat the patterns. Social engagement is encouraged. | Behavioral: Square-stepping exercise<br>* Participants are asked to remember and repeat stepping patterns across a gridded mat as shown to them by an instructor.<br>* Other names: Mind-motor exercise;|
| No Intervention: Usual care wait-list control group<br>This group will be invited to participate in square-stepping exercise after final assessments are completed. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WOMAC Index | self-report of knee pain for osteoarthritis | Change from baseline to 24-weeks | 
| WOMAC Index | self-report of knee pain for osteoarthritis | Change from baseline to 12-weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30 second Chair stand | measures lower limb functional strength | change from baseline to 24-weeks | 
| 30 second Chair stand | measures lower limb functional strength | change from baseline to 12-weeks | 
| Timed up and Go test | measures functional fitness | change from baseline to 24-weeks | 
| Timed up and Go test | measures functional fitness | change from baseline to 12-weeks | 
| Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale | a single scale used to measure static and dynamic balance | change from baseline to 24-weeks | 
| Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale | a single scale used to measure static and dynamic balance | change from baseline to 12-weeks | 
| 6 metre walk test | measures usual walking speed | change from baseline to 24-weeks | 
| 6 metre walk test | measures usual walking speed | change from baseline to 12-weeks |