Clinical trial NCT04445350: Motor Learning in Knee Osteoarthritis
Official title: Motor Learning in Knee Osteoarthritis Therapy - A New Rehabilitation Approach
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis
Lower Extremity Biomechanics
Physiotherapy
Keywords: Physiotherapy
External Focus Of Attention
Knee Adduction Moment
Gait Analysis
Osteoarthritis
Motor Learning
Lead sponsor: St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Danube University Krems
name: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences
name: Orthopedic Hospital Speising
First posted: 2020-06-24
Enrollment: 50
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 45
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Non-surgical treatment options, like exercise therapy, show excellent short-term effects regarding pain reduction and improvement of knee function. However, mid- and long-term effects are missing so far. This might indicate that long-lasting changes in motor-skill performance (Motor Learning) have not occurred. Motor learning is associated with permanent changes in the capability for skilled movement behavior avoiding unfavorable joint loads and inappropriate muscle activation patterns, leading to compensatory movement strategies. One-sided and high repetitive loads in the knee joint could be one reason for the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Physiotherapeutic strategies should therefore be able to stimulate motor learning processes. In physiotherapy, motor learning can be optimized by using instructions and feedback, targeting an external focus of attention, when learning specific movement patterns. This study investigates the effects of a 12 week exercise therapy program, using an external focus of attention, on functional and biomechanical parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis. To measure possible changes, functional measurements are taking place at baseline, after 6, 12 and 24 weeks. The biomechanical measurements (3D gait analysis) are taking place at baseline, after 12 and 24 weeks.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Kellgren-Lawrence-Score 1-3
* BMI \< 33
* Free range of motion in the knee joint

Exclusion Criteria:

* Activated knee osteoarthritis
* Lower extremity surgery in the past 6 weeks
* Intake or injection of corticosteroids in the past 3 month
* Long-term medication non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
* Neurological diseases
* Drug or alcohol abuse

Primary outcomes:
measure: Knee Adduction Moment (change over a period of 6 month with 3 measurement dates)
timeFrame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)
timeFrame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Star Excursion Balance Test (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)
timeFrame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Isometric strength tests (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)
timeFrame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
measure: Six minute walking test (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)
timeFrame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Sankt Pölten
country: Austria
facility: Sankt Pölten University of Applied Sciences
state: Lower Austria
Study officials:
References: