Electromyostimulation and Strength Walking for Knee Injuries

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Knee Injury

In brief

The purpose of this project is to compare three treatment regimens for knee injury to the standard rehabilitation protocol: 1) NMES, 2) graduated strength walking (via a weighted vest), and 3) NMES combined with graduated strength walking. Each treatment arm will be supplemented by the standard of care and compared to a group who receive the standard rehabilitation only. The Study will compare the effects of NMES, Strength Walking and combined NMES/ Strength Walking on strength, mobility, symptomatology, and Quality of Life (QOL) in military members with knee injury to a standard rehabilitation protocol program only. All groups will participate in standard rehabilitation protocol. The groups will be assessed over 18 weeks to compare main and interactive effects over time.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02065518

Run by

University of Tennessee

People needed

78

Starts

2014-03-01

Expected to finish

2018-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2019-08-28

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• A diagnosis of knee injury (internal derangement of the knee with new effusion, including knee sprain or strains, meniscal tear, cruciate ligamentous tear, and chondral flap or injury);
• A diagnosis of knee pain that is anterior knee pain, overuse pain, patella-femoral pain, and chronic pain (less than 6 months) associated with overuse syndromes which negatively impacts performance by (a) pain in 1 or both knees on most days of the month; b) self reported difficulty performing at least one or more tasks due to pain: stair climbing, rising from a chair, walking or running a quarter mile, repetitive movements such as kneeling or squatting or stooping, pain that inhibits job performance and daily activities;
• Military service member at the time of injury (active duty military and Reserve/ National Guard in active duty status);
• Age ≥18 and ≤50 years;
• Ability to provide freely given informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Fracture or injury to external knee structures such that knee extension or flexion is impaired;
• Evidence of a fracture on radiographs or clinical evidence of unstable tendon tear/rupture;
• A significant co-morbid medical condition (such as severe hypertension or neurological disorder in which NMES strength training or unsupervised exercise is contraindicated and would pose a safety threat or impair ability to participate;
• Inability or unwillingness to participate in a walking or strengthening program;
• Inability to speak and/or read English;
• Reduced sensory perception in the lower extremities;
• Inability to walk on a treadmill without an assistive device;
• Vision impairment, where participant is classified as legally blind;
• Unwillingness to accept random assignment;
• Pregnancy;
• A score of 23 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression scale (CES-D);
• If the person has a demand type implanted pacemaker or defibrillator.

Where it is running

• Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center — Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, United States
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Cener — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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