Physiotherapy - Research Publications
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ItemAddition of telephone coaching to a physiotherapist-delivered physical activity program in people with knee osteoarthritis: A randomised controlled trial protocol(BMC, 2012-12-11)BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common and costly chronic musculoskeletal conditions world-wide and is associated with substantial pain and disability. Many people with knee OA also experience co-morbidities that further add to the OA burden. Uptake of and adherence to physical activity recommendations is suboptimal in this patient population, leading to poorer OA outcomes and greater impact of associated co-morbidities. This pragmatic randomised controlled trial will investigate the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of adding telephone coaching to a physiotherapist-delivered physical activity intervention for people with knee OA. METHODS/DESIGN: 168 people with clinically diagnosed knee OA will be recruited from the community in metropolitan and regional areas and randomly allocated to physiotherapy only, or physiotherapy plus nurse-delivered telephone coaching. Physiotherapy involves five treatment sessions over 6 months, incorporating a home exercise program of 4-6 exercises (targeting knee extensor and hip abductor strength) and advice to increase daily physical activity. Telephone coaching comprises 6-12 telephone calls over 6 months by health practitioners trained in applying the Health Change Australia (HCA) Model of Health Change to provide behaviour change support. The telephone coaching intervention aims to maximise adherence to the physiotherapy program, as well as facilitate increased levels of participation in general physical activity. The primary outcomes are pain measured by an 11-point numeric rating scale and self-reported physical function measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale after 6 months. Secondary outcomes include physical activity levels, quality-of-life, and potential moderators and mediators of outcomes including self-efficacy, pain coping and depression. Relative cost-effectiveness will be determined from health service usage and outcome data. Follow-up assessments will also occur at 12 and 18 months. DISCUSSION: The findings will help determine whether the addition of telephone coaching sessions can improve sustainability of outcomes from a physiotherapist-delivered physical activity intervention in people with knee OA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference: ACTRN12612000308897.
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ItemSelf-reported knee joint instability is related to passive mechanical stiffness in medial knee osteoarthritis(BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, 2013-11-20)BACKGROUND: Self-reported knee joint instability compromises function in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis and may be related to impaired joint mechanics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between self-reported instability and the passive varus-valgus mechanical behaviour of the medial osteoarthritis knee. METHODS: Passive varus-valgus angular laxity and stiffness were assessed using a modified isokinetic dynamometer in 73 participants with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. All participants self-reported the absence or presence of knee instability symptoms and the degree to which instability affected daily activity on a 6-point likert scale. RESULTS: Forward linear regression modelling identified a significant inverse relationship between passive mid-range knee stiffness and symptoms of knee instability (r = 0.27; P < 0.05): reduced stiffness was indicative of more severe instability symptoms. Angular laxity and end-range stiffness were not related to instability symptoms (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Conceivably, a stiffer passive system may contribute toward greater joint stability during functional activities. Importantly however, net joint stiffness is influenced by both active and passive stiffness, and thus the active neuromuscular system may compensate for reduced passive stiffness in order to maintain joint stability. Future work is merited to examine the role of active stiffness in symptomatic joint stability.
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ItemThe effects of neuromuscular exercise on medial knee joint load post-arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy: 'SCOPEX' a randomised control trial protocol(BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, 2012-11-27)BACKGROUND: Meniscectomy is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, with increased medial joint loading a likely contributor to the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis in this group. Therefore, post-surgical rehabilitation or interventions that reduce medial knee joint loading have the potential to reduce the risk of developing or progressing osteoarthritis. The primary purpose of this randomised, assessor-blind controlled trial is to determine the effects of a home-based, physiotherapist-supervised neuromuscular exercise program on medial knee joint load during functional tasks in people who have recently undergone a partial medial meniscectomy. METHODS/DESIGN: 62 people aged 30-50 years who have undergone an arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy within the previous 3 to 12 months will be recruited and randomly assigned to a neuromuscular exercise or control group using concealed allocation. The neuromuscular exercise group will attend 8 supervised exercise sessions with a physiotherapist and will perform 6 exercises at home, at least 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The control group will not receive the neuromuscular training program. Blinded assessment will be performed at baseline and immediately following the 12-week intervention. The primary outcomes are change in the peak external knee adduction moment measured by 3-dimensional analysis during normal paced walking and one-leg rise. Secondary outcomes include the change in peak external knee adduction moment during fast pace walking and one-leg hop and change in the knee adduction moment impulse during walking, one-leg rise and one-leg hop, knee and hip muscle strength, electromyographic muscle activation patterns, objective measures of physical function, as well as self-reported measures of physical function and symptoms and additional biomechanical parameters. DISCUSSION: The findings from this trial will provide evidence regarding the effect of a home-based, physiotherapist-supervised neuromuscular exercise program on medial knee joint load during various tasks in people with a partial medial meniscectomy. If shown to reduce the knee adduction moment, neuromuscular exercise has the potential to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis or slow its progression in those with early disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference: ACTRN12612000542897.
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ItemMeasurement properties of performance-based measures to assess physical function in hip and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2012-12)OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the measurement properties of performance-based measures to assess physical function in people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Electronic searches were performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO up to the end of June 2012. Two reviewers independently rated measurement properties using the consensus-based standards for the selection of health status measurement instrument (COSMIN). "Best evidence synthesis" was made using COSMIN outcomes and the quality of findings. RESULTS: Twenty-four out of 1792 publications were eligible for inclusion. Twenty-one performance-based measures were evaluated including 15 single-activity measures and six multi-activity measures. Measurement properties evaluated included internal consistency (three measures), reliability (16 measures), measurement error (14 measures), validity (nine measures), responsiveness (12 measures) and interpretability (three measures). A positive rating was given to only 16% of possible measurement ratings. Evidence for the majority of measurement properties of tests reported in the review has yet to be determined. On balance of the limited evidence, the 40 m self-paced test was the best rated walk test, the 30 s-chair stand test and timed up and go test were the best rated sit to stand tests, and the Stratford battery, Physical Activity Restrictions and Functional Assessment System were the best rated multi-activity measures. CONCLUSION: Further good quality research investigating measurement properties of performance measures, including responsiveness and interpretability in people with hip and/or knee OA, is needed. Consensus on which combination of measures will best assess physical function in people with hip/and or knee OA is urgently required.
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ItemOARSI recommended performance-based tests to assess physical function in people diagnosed with hip or knee osteoarthritis(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2013-08)OBJECTIVES: To recommend a consensus-derived set of performance-based tests of physical function for use in people diagnosed with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) or following joint replacement. METHODS: An international, multidisciplinary expert advisory group was established to guide the study. Potential tests for consideration in the recommended set were identified via a survey of selected experts and through a systematic review of the measurement properties for performance-based tests. A multi-phase, consensus-based approach was used to prioritize and select performance-based tests by applying decision analysis methodology (1000Minds software) via online decision surveys. The recommended tests were chosen based on available measurement-property evidence, feasibility of the tests, scoring methods and expert consensus. RESULTS: Consensus incorporated the opinions of 138 experienced clinicians and researchers from 16 countries. The five tests recommended by the advisory group and endorsed by Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) were the 30-s chair-stand test, 40 m fast-paced walk test, a stair-climb test, timed up-and-go test and 6-min walk test. The first three were recommended as the minimal core set of performance-based tests for hip or knee OA. CONCLUSION: The OARSI recommended set of performance-based tests of physical function represents the tests of typical activities relevant to individuals diagnosed with hip or knee OA and following joint replacements. These tests are complementary to patient-reported measures and are recommended as prospective outcome measures in future OA research and to assist decision-making in clinical practice. Further research should be directed to expanding the measurement-property evidence of the recommended tests.
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ItemMedial arch supports do not significantly alter the knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2013-01)OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of medial arch supports on indices of medial knee joint load (the peak external knee adduction moment (KAM) and knee adduction angular (KAA) impulse) and knee pain during walking in people with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: Twenty-one people with medial compartment OA underwent gait analysis in standardised athletic shoes wearing (1) no medial arch supports and (2) prefabricated medial arch supports, in random order. Outcomes were the first and second peaks in the external KAM, the KAA impulse and severity of knee pain during testing. Outcomes were compared across conditions using paired t tests (gait data) and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test (pain data). RESULTS: There were no significant changes in either first or second peak KAM, or in the KAA impulse, with the addition of medial arch supports (all P > 0.05). Considerable individual variation in response to the arch supports was observed across participants. There was no immediate change in knee pain during walking when medial arch supports were worn (P = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no mean change in any of the measured indices of medial knee load with medial arch supports. No immediate changes in knee pain were evident.
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ItemSagittal plane joint loading is related to knee flexion in osteoarthritic gait(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2013-10)BACKGROUND: High mechanical loading has been consistently linked with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, and is considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Evidence from healthy adults indicates that knee flexion kinematics may influence knee load. The purpose of this study therefore, was to investigate the association between knee flexion kinematics and indicators of joint loading during walking (peak moments and vertical ground reaction force), in individuals with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 89 participants with painful medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis completed three-dimensional walking gait analysis to measure stance phase ground reaction forces, knee joint moments, and knee flexion kinematics. FINDINGS: In stepwise regression, greater knee flexion excursion was associated with higher peak vertical ground reaction force, accounting for 10% of its variance (B=0.62 [95% CI 0.34, 0.89], P<0.001). Greater peak knee flexion was associated with a higher flexion moment, accounting for 44% of its variance (B=0.12 [95% CI 0.09, 0.15], P<0.001). No association was found between the knee adduction moment and knee flexion kinematics during walking. INTERPRETATION: Our data suggest that greater knee flexion is associated with higher joint loads in the sagittal plane (i.e. a higher peak knee flexion moment). However, knee flexion kinematics were not associated with the knee adduction moment - a proxy measure of medial compartment knee load. Thus, high knee flexion should be considered an undesirable gait characteristic with respect to knee load in individuals with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis.
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ItemEfficacy of acupuncture for chronic knee pain: protocol for a randomised controlled trial using a Zelen design(BMC, 2012-09-19)BACKGROUND: Chronic knee pain is a common and disabling condition in people over 50 years of age, with knee joint osteoarthritis being a major cause. Acupuncture is a popular form of complementary and alternative medicine for treating pain and dysfunction associated with musculoskeletal conditions. This pragmatic Zelen-design randomised controlled trial is investigating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of needle and laser acupuncture, administered by medical practitioners, in people with chronic knee pain. METHODS/DESIGN: Two hundred and eighty two people aged over 50 years with chronic knee pain have been recruited from metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, Australia. Participants originally consented to participate in a longitudinal natural history study but were then covertly randomised into one of four treatment groups. One group continued as originally consented (ie natural history group) and received no acupuncture treatment. The other three were treatment groups: i) laser acupuncture, ii) sham laser or, iii) needle acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments used a combined Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine style, were delivered by general practitioners and comprised 8-12 visits over 12 weeks. Follow-up is currently ongoing. The primary outcomes are pain measured by an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) and self-reported physical function measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale at the completion of treatment at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, global rating of change scores and additional measures of pain (other NRS and WOMAC subscale) and physical function (NRS). Additional parameters include a range of psychosocial measures in order to evaluate potential relationships with acupuncture treatment outcomes. Relative cost-effectiveness will be determined from health service usage and outcome data. Follow-up assessments will also occur at 12 months. DISCUSSION: The findings from this study will help determine whether laser and/or needle acupuncture is efficacious, and cost-effective, in the management of chronic knee pain in older people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference: ACTRN12609001001280.