The effects of resistance training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation in advanced knee osteoarthritis

The effects of resistance training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in advanced knee osteoarthritis - a comparison of the outcomes of a 6-week program of resistance training versus a 6-week program of NMES versus controls: a prospective, single blinded, randomised, interventional/treatment, efficacy study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN85231954

Enrollment

Registered

2009-07-09

Start date

2009-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Knee osteoarthritis Musculoskeletal Diseases Polyarthrosis

Interventions

Arm A: A 6-week home-based exercise program, with particular emphasis on strengthening the quadriceps femoris muscle. The exercises will be adapted to account for individual symptoms and disability

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Male and female patients aged 55 - 75 years 2. Advanced knee osteoarthritis (grade 3 or 4 knee osteoarthritis diagnosed arthroscopically within the last 2 years, or placed on the waiting list for knee replacement surgery with the indication of osteoarthritis within the last 12 months) 3. Ambulatory patients 4. Residing in the Greater Dublin area

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Medical co-morbidities that preclude an exercise program 2. Neurological disorder 3. Implanted electrical device 4. Uncontrolled hypertension 5. Anticoagulant therapy 6. Malignancy 7. Inflammatory arthritis 8. Prior ipsilateral knee replacement surgery or contra-lateral knee replacement surgery within the last 2 years 9. Recent participation in an exercise or strength training program 10. Recent participation in a similar study

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Western Ontario McMaster University Arthritis index (WOMAC) scores, measured at baseline, week 7 and week 13 2. Isometric quadriceps strength (peak torque at 60 degrees of knee flexion) measured bilaterally with a dynamometer, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 3. Isokinetic strength at 60 degrees per second in knee extension and flexion measured bilaterally with a dynamometer, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 4. Functional testing including a timed 25-metre walking test, a timed stair climbing test and a timed up/down seated test, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 5. Quadriceps femoris cross-sectional area on MRI imaging, taken at baseline and week 7	—

Measure

Time frame

1. 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Western Ontario McMaster University Arthritis index (WOMAC) scores, measured at baseline, week 7 and week 13 2. Isometric quadriceps strength (peak torque at 60 degrees of knee flexion) measured bilaterally with a dynamometer, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 3. Isokinetic strength at 60 degrees per second in knee extension and flexion measured bilaterally with a dynamometer, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 4. Functional testing including a timed 25-metre walking test, a timed stair climbing test and a timed up/down seated test, assessed at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period) 5. Quadriceps femoris cross-sectional area on MRI imaging, taken at baseline and week 7

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Knee flexion and extension limits, both active and passive 2. Height and weight measurements, to determine body mass index 3. Physical activity level 4. Knee pain score immediately before and during all functional and strength testing 5. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsy analysis, taken at baseline and at week 7. Analysis of the muscle biopsy tissue will take place after all participants have completed week 13. 5.1. Key functional and structural protein content including myosin heavy chain 5.2. Gene expression associated with muscle hypertrophy (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]) and atrophy (MAFbx and MURF-1) All secondary outcome measures except the muscle biopsies will be measured at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period).	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Knee flexion and extension limits, both active and passive 2. Height and weight measurements, to determine body mass index 3. Physical activity level 4. Knee pain score immediately before and during all functional and strength testing 5. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsy analysis, taken at baseline and at week 7. Analysis of the muscle biopsy tissue will take place after all participants have completed week 13. 5.1. Key functional and structural protein content including myosin heavy chain 5.2. Gene expression associated with muscle hypertrophy (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]) and atrophy (MAFbx and MURF-1) All secondary outcome measures except the muscle biopsies will be measured at baseline, week 1 (end of familiarisation period), week 7 (end of training period) and week 13 (6 weeks post-training period).

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Countries

Ireland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 26, 2026