None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project aims to investigate whether physiotherapists can support people to return to run after stopping due to knee osteoarthritis. Twenty participants will be recruited and prescribed a running program along with fortnightly physiotherapy sessions (conducted in-person or using telehealth) to guide progression of running distance over 9-12 weeks, increasing toward 5km distance. Physiotherapists will offer advice and exercise to help support running. Pain and symptoms will be monitored and if needed treatment offered to participants. Running distance and number of runs completed will also be recorded. At the end of the project, participants will be invited to complete an interview with a researcher to understand their experiences taking part. Insights from these interviews and the success of recruitment and participation will form the results of this project to guide further research and inform the real-world use of physiotherapy-supported running programs in Australia.
Interventions
Single arm intervention pilot cohort study
Under supervision of an experienced AHPRA registered and titled Sport and Exercise physiotherapist (Emma Draffin), participants will be instructed to complete a 12 week progressive running program, individualising the established ‘couch to 5km’ (C25K) program. C25K gradually increases time from walking to running aiming for a 5km distance at program end over 9 weeks. A Physiotherapists will individualise this program to run for 12 weeks and will not pr
Single arm intervention pilot cohort study Under supervision of an experienced AHPRA registered and titled Sport and Exercise physiotherapist (Emma Draffin), participants will be instructed to complete a 12 week progressive running program, individualising the established ‘couch to 5km’ (C25K) program. C25K gradually increases time from walking to running aiming for a 5km distance at program end over 9 weeks. A Physiotherapists will individualise this program to run for 12 weeks and will not progress distance deemed to be unsafe (based on clinical assessment). This means potentially delaying running progressions to aid symptom management (e.g. running progression may take between 12 weeks, whilst participants will increase distance toward 5km, reaching this distance is not required). Physiotherapist-support will be provided with fortnightly (30min) sessions (at 2-, 4- ,6-, 8-, 10-weeks), in-person or via telehealth if preferred by participants. Intervention content provided will be pragmatic, guided by evidence, but may include: • Education regarding the benefits and safety of running • Delaying running progressions to aid symptom management (e.g. running progression may take between 12 weeks, whilst participants will increase distance toward 5km, reaching this distance is not required) • Prescribing exercises for strength improvement (i.e., resistance training following established American College of Sports Medicine guidelines) of major lower-limb muscle groups to support running capacity. • Gait retraining guided by video analysis • Advice for osteoarthritis symptoms managment (e.g. pain relief) • Manual therapy and adjunct treatments (e.g., massage and sports-taping) to manage symptoms Symptoms (pain or discomfort caused by participation) will be regularly monitored by the treating physiotherapist at each fortnightly appointment. Where symptoms cannot be managed by the treating physiotherapist referral back to the research team will be made. Our research team comprises expert physiotherapists, and, where needed, a sports physician who can provide medical guidance to support patient safety. Adherence: Participation in a free community event (Parkrun, >500 locations in Australia) throughout the program will encourage adherence and ongoing participation in running following the intervention period. Completion of prescribed running sessions will be recorded Physiotherapy session attendance checklist will be recorded Monitoring: • Running data will be collected and recorded using a smartwatch (e.g., Garmin or apple watch) and/or ‘Strava™ app’ collected through study • Attendance to physiotherapy sessions will be recorded and these sessions will also provide the opportunity for in-person review and assessment of any running-related symptoms or adverse events. • Symptoms related to running will be monitored using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) assessing pain intensity in relation to the knee 12-24hrs after each run (online using REDCap software). • An exercise diary will be completed at each of the 4-, 8-, 12-week timepoints to understand what physiotherapist-prescribed exercises were completed by participants. (online using REDCap software). • Participants will also have the opportunity to contact the treating physiotherapist or research team at any time in relation to their pain or symptoms.
Sponsors
La Trobe University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
40 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Eligibility criteria: • Have not run for exercise in the past six months • Satisfy either the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) or the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) clinical criteria for knee osteoarthritis: EULAR CRITERIA o Are older than 40 years of age o movement-related knee joint pain (e.g., pain with squatting or taking stairs) o morning knee stiffness of less than 30 min, o functional limitations due to knee (e.g., difficulty with exercise) o AND in addition, have one or more examination findings: - Crepitus (clicking and cracking knees related to movement of your knee) - restricted range of knee motion (bending and straightening) - bony enlargement NICE CRITERIA o Are older than 45 years of age o movement-related knee joint pain (e.g., pain with squatting or taking stairs) o morning knee stiffness of less than 30 min
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria • Younger than 40 or older than 60 years. • Self-reported inflammatory disease • Inability to speak and understand the English language as this study does not have funding for translation or language support services • Other known health issues preventing exercise participation (where this is unclear, the Adult Pre-Exercise Screening System (APSS) will be used to screen for risk. Where any condition warrants the need for clearance of a medical professional potential participants will be offered the choice not to proceed or to self-refer to their treating doctor to be seen at their own expense to provide guidance on participation).
Outcome results
None listed