Biomarkers and Knee Osteoarthritis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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High joint load during walking has been linked to cartilage degradation. Biomarkers, found in the blood and urine, are protein fragments released after cartilage degradation characteristic of OA. They have the potential to enable direct and immediate disease state monitoring and identification of early cartilage changes. Little is known about the association of biomarkers with joint load or if exercise aimed at reducing joint load changes biomarker levels, thus reducing the risk of OA progression. This study will provide novel information on these relationships and will guide future intervention studies. The investigators hypothesize that certain biomarkers will be highly correlated with joint loading during walking and that the levels of these biomarkers in the blood and urine will decrease following an exercise intervention aimed at cartilage unloading.

Detailed Description
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Participants will be tested twice (baseline and 11 weeks later) where they will undergo gait and strength analyses by the same blinded assessor, complete self-report questionnaires, and have blood and urine samples drawn. Participants will then be randomized into either: (i) exercise; or (ii) usual care (no additional treatment). Those in the exercise group will complete 10-weeks of strengthening targeting lower limb muscles. Once weekly, they will consult with the study physiotherapist (MAH) at UBC to ensure proper performance and safe progression of exercises. Participants will be given cuff weights and resistance bands to complete exercises at home five times per week. Exercise compliance will be monitored using log books. All participants will be encouraged to maintain their usual treatment regimen (except for exercises completed by the exercise group), but will document any unexpected alterations such as medication changes or physician visits.

Official Title
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Biomarkers and Knee Osteoarthritis: Associations With Joint Load and Effects of Exercise

Conditions
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Knee Osteoarthritis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Lower limb muscle strengthening


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age greater than 50 years (to meet the American College of Rheumatology clinical definition of OA) radiographically confirmed knee OA in the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint knee pain during walking greater than 3/10 (based on an 11-point scale; 0 = no pain, 10 = maximal pain) on most days of the previous month predominance of pain/tenderness over the medial (inside) region of the knee Exclusion Criteria: articular cartilage degradation in the lateral tibiofemoral compartment greater than the medial (medial compartment OA is more common than lateral and the KAM is a validated measure of medial compartment loading only) currently in a structured exercise program medical condition precluding exercise inflammatory arthritic condition history of knee replacement surgery recent use of corticosteroids (oral or via injection) unable to attend exercise training sessions at UBC pain originating predominantly from the patellofemoral joint inability to ambulate without a gait aid non-English speaking (questionnaires are in English and must be completed by the study participant only) recent (within 6 months) arthroscopic knee surgery significant hip or back pain (limits the ability to perform the testing and exercises)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 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: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: A.<br>10 weeks of partially supervised lower limb muscle strengthening targeting the following muscles groups: quadriceps, hamstrings, hip abductors. | Behavioral: Lower limb muscle strengthening<br>* Participants in the exercise group will receive a lower limb strengthening program consisting of 6 exercises targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip abductor groups. They will perform these exercises at home 4 times per week (3 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise). Over the course of the intervention, each participant will consult with the physiotherapist a total of 5 times (once per week in weeks: 1,2,3,5, and 8) to ensure proper performance of exercises and safe progression of resistance.<br>|
| No Intervention: B<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serum levels of biomarkers (COMP, HA, C2C, CP2) measured at baseline and 11 weeks |  | 11 weeks | 
| Urinary levels of biomarkers (CTX-2, C2C) measured at baseline and 11 weeks |  | 11 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knee joint loading during walking (external knee adduction moment) measured at baseline and 11 weeks |  | 11 weeks | 
| Self-reported pain and physical function (WOMAC) measured at baseline and 11 weeks. |  | 11 weeks | 
| Isometric muscle strength (hamstrings, quadriceps, hip abductors) measured at baseline and 11 weeks |  | 11 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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knee, osteoarthritis