Walking Aids in the Management of Hip Osteoarthritis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the use of a nonpharmacologic intervention (single point cane) is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Detailed Description
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Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disease in humans, is a significant cause of pain and disability. Non-pharmacological treatments for hip OA include education, exercise, appliances (walking sticks or insoles), and weight reduction if obese or overweight. Canes are often recommended to reduce adverse forces across joints although there is currently no research evidence regarding the efficacy of walking sticks for hip OA. Little information is available regarding the impact of walking aids on psychosocial function and quality of life in individuals with hip OA. This study will evaluate the effects of walking aids in hip OA by examining gait biomechanics, quality of life, pain, and opinions regarding using a cane. Comparisons: Compare gait biomechanics in people with symptomatic unilateral hip OA while walking with and without a cane at baseline and after 4 weeks of cane use. Compare gait biomechanics in people with symptomatic unilateral hip OA with and without a cane to those of healthy, age-matched controls. Compare pain and health-related quality of life in people with symptomatic unilateral hip OA following 4 weeks of cane use. Determine the association between changes in gait biomechanics, pain, and health-related quality of life in people with symptomatic unilateral hip OA following 4 weeks of cane use.

Official Title
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Walking Aids in the Management of Hip Osteoarthritis

Conditions
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Osteoarthritis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: single point cane


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: hip OA (grades II-IV) of the Kellgren/Lawrence classification with pain in one hip for most days of the prior month Ability to walk 30 feet without postural sway Ability to stand unaided Ability to understand verbal instructions Ability to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: History of hip or knee trauma or surgery including arthroscopic surgery in the past six months Severe obesity (> 300 pounds) Neurological disorders that affect lower extremity function such as stroke or peripheral neuropathy, vestibular dysfunction or poor vision Injury or amputation to the lower extremity joints History of other types of arthritis or fibromyalgia Pain from spine, knee, ankle, or foot disease that would interfere with assessment of the hip Poor health that would impair compliance or assessment such as shortness of breath with exertion, chest pain Foot deformities such as hallux rigidus, valgus deformity of the midfoot, previous ankle arthrodesis Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

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


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Adult subjects with hip osteoarthritis<br>Walk with and without a single point cane at baseline and after four weeks | Device: single point cane<br>* Adjustable single point cane with SureGrip handle<br>|
| No Intervention: Healthy Subjects<br>Healthy adults walking without a cane at baseline | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gait Velocity |  | Baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gait Velocity With a Cane in Hip OA Subjects | Measured gait velocity when hip OA subjects walked with a cane at the baseline visit. | Baseline | 
| Gait Velocity | Gait velocity when adults with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis walked with a cane after four weeks of cane use | 4 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Osteoarthritis, Walking Sticks, Canes