Core Activation and Stabilization for Knee OA

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Osteoarthritis, Knee

In brief

This will be the second investigation by the PI and sub-investigator on this topic, following the promising results of a pilot study on a small sample size (N=5) completed last year. Whether or not core stabilization influences gait impairments in patients with KOA remains to be seen. Core stabilization has been shown to have positive effects, including increased stride velocity and scores on functional tests like the Functional Reach Test and Timed Up and Go, in older adults. Older adults were also shown to have high compliance with a core stability training program. A systematic review indicated that core training is important to consider when treating older individuals to improve functional use of the extremities, improving participation in activities of daily living, and as part of a fall prevention program. Additionally, it has been shown to benefit young, active individuals in preventing anterior cruciate ligament injury and greater duration of improved outcomes in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Athletes with decreased core control have been shown to be at an increased risk of knee injury as well. One potential cause for this is the ability of the core to improve lower extremity kinematics when activated during challenging single leg weight bearing activity. A recent publication by Azuma, et al. did indicate that paraspinal and anterior abdominal thinning had a negative predictive relationship to the presence of KOA; however, no investigation has explored a cause and effect relationship between core stability/stabilization training and the presence or severity of KOA, nor the gait and functional ability of patients with KOA. This later concept is the focus of this investigation.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT03776981
Run by: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport
People needed: 44
Starts: 2019-01-08
Expected to finish: 2019-12-11
Last updated by the study team: 2020-02-25

Who can join

Age: 40 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

English-speaking men and women
40 years old and older
any race or ethnic group
a documented diagnosis from a medical provider (i.e., physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, etc.) of KOA, unilaterally or bilaterally.
Previous or current physical therapy patients may be included (see exclusion criteria for exceptions).
Healthy controls will meet the same requirements, but:
without a medical diagnosis of KOA
have the ability to ambulate on a level surface without any report of pain in their knees at the time of gait assessment.

You may not qualify if…

Those with other lower extremity injuries (orthopaedic, cardiovascular, neurologic, etc.) which are currently hindering their ability to ambulate
those with current complaints of low back pain
those who have undergone bilateral total knee arthroplasty
those with concomitant diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
those persons not able to ambulate independently with or without an assistive device
those who have received a corticosteroid injection within the past two months
those who have received a hyaluronic acid injection in the past six months
those persons currently enrolled in a core training program as part of formal physical therapy or physical fitness.

Where it is running

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport — Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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