Motor Learning in Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis Clinical Trial

— MLKOA  

Official title:

Motor Learning in Knee Osteoarthritis Therapy - A New Rehabilitation Approach

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04445350
• Other study ID #: StPoltenUAS
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: April 30, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: June 2020
• Source: St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
• Contact: Barbara Wondrasch, PhD
• Phone: +43/676/847 228 583
• Email: barbara.wondrasch[@]fhstp.ac.at
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: April 30, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: February 28, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 45 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Knee Osteoarthritis
• Lower Extremity Biomechanics
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Physiotherapy

Intervention

Other:
• External Focus Of Attention
Instructions and feedback are used to direct the learner's focus to an external source (e.g. the effect the intended movement has) promoting long-term learning by stimulating automatic cognitive control processes.
• Internal Focus Of Attention
In contrast, adopting an internal focus of attention (e.g. focus on specific body areal) can disrupt automatic control processes and interfere automatic movement.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Austria	Sankt Pölten University of Applied Sciences	Sankt Pölten	Lower Austria

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences	Danube University Krems, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Orthopedic Hospital Speising

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Austria, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Knee Adduction Moment (change over a period of 6 month with 3 measurement dates)	3D gait analysis during walking	Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Primary	Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)	Questionnaire; Minimum value: 0 (highest limitation), Maximum: 100 (no limitation)	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Primary	Star Excursion Balance Test (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)	An established test to determine movement control and balance ability. The test person stands on one leg and will is asked to stretch the non supporting leg as far as possible in the directions presented.	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Primary	Isometric strength tests (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)	Measures the isometric force of the knee extensors, knee flexors, hip abductors, hip extensors and hip external rotators with a portable dynamometer	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks
Primary	Six minute walking test (change over a period of 6 month with 4 measurement dates)	The six minute walking test is a reliable measuring tool to examine the distance a person can walk in a given time period.	Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks