Effects of a walking programme on the strength, pain, function and mobility of the thigh muscles in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee

ISRCTN ISRCTN12850845
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12850845
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
07/01/2015
Registration date
26/01/2015
Last edited
09/02/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims:
Knee osteoarthritis is a major cause of chronic disability in older adults worldwide. The symptoms can be knee pain and morning stiffness. The patients might feel weakness in their thigh (quadriceps) muscles and have difficulty with the activities of daily living. The results of previous studies suggest that a simple walking programme can reduce pain and improve function and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Retro walking might provide additional benefits to those associated with forward walking. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of retro and forward walking on quadriceps muscle strength, pain, function, and mobility in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Who can participate?
Individuals with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, aged 40–70 years old.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups (A, B and C). Group A have two sessions (10 minutes each) of retro walking. Group B have two sessions (10 minutes each) of forward walking. Patients in groups A and B also receive a standard physiotherapy training programme. Group C receive only a standard physiotherapy programme.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefits of the retro and forward walking programmes are improvements in knee pain, disability, and quality of life; another benefit of the retro walking programme is increase in the quadriceps strength. The risks of the programmes are minimum or none.

Where is the study run from?
King Saud University (Saudi Arabia)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2014 to December 2015

Who is funding the study?
King Saud University (Saudi Arabia)

Who is the main contact?
Mr Shahnawaz Anwer

Contact information

Mr Shahnawaz Anwer
Public

Building Number 24, College of Applied Medical Sciences
G095/1, Rehabilitation Research Chair
King Saud University
Riyadh
11433
Saudi Arabia

Study information

Study designDouble-blind randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleEffects of a backward and forward walking programme on the strength, pain, function and mobility of the quadriceps in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial
Study objectives1. Retro and forward walking as an adjunct to a standard physiotherapy programme has significant effects on quadriceps muscle strength, pain, function, and mobility in patients with osteoarthritis knee.
2. There are significant differences in the effects of retro and forward walking as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy programme on quadriceps muscle strength, pain, function, and mobility in patients with osteoarthritis knee.
Ethics approval(s)Ethics subcommittee, Rehabilitation Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 20/04/2014, ref: RRC-2014-010
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedKnee osteoarthritis
InterventionParticipants will be randomised to one of three groups:
1. Group A participants will have two sessions (10 minutes each) of the retro walking programme with 5 minutes of warm up and cool down for 3 days a week for 6 weeks on a flat surface at their maximum pace along with a standard physiotherapy programme. They will gradually increase the walking time up to half an hour. Individuals will do ankle toe movements, hamstring stretching, gastrosoleus stretching and heel-raise exercises during warm up and cool down.
2. Group B participants will have two sessions (10 minutes each) of the forward walking programme with 5 minutes of warm up and cool down for 3 days a week for 6 weeks on a flat surface at their maximum pace along with a standard physiotherapy programme. They will gradually increase the walking time up to half an hour. Individuals will do ankle toe movements, hamstring stretching, gastrosoleus stretching and heel-raise exercises during warm up and cool down.
3. Group C participants (control) will receive only a standard physiotherapy programme.
Outcomes will be measured at baseline and at the end of week 6.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measure1. Knee pain, measured with the Numeric Rating Scale
2. Knee function, measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthris
Index
Outcomes will be measured at baseline and at the end of week 6.
Secondary outcome measures1. Isometric quadriceps muscle strength, measured with a hand-held dynamometer
2. Mobility, measured with the timed up and go test
Outcomes will be measured at baseline and at the end of week 6.
Overall study start date01/03/2014
Completion date30/12/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants69
Total final enrolment68
Key inclusion criteria1. Physician-diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, based on the American College of Rheumatology clinical and radiographic diagnostic criteria
2. Age 40–70
3. Kellgren-Lawrence grade of 1–3
Key exclusion criteria1. History of knee surgery within the past 3 months
2. Received physical therapy and an intra-articular injection for the knee within the past 3 months
3. History of a systemic arthritic condition
4. History of any other muscular, joint or neurological condition affecting the function of the lower limb
Date of first enrolment03/08/2014
Date of final enrolment30/10/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Saudi Arabia

Study participating centre

College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University
Building Number 24
G095/1
PO Box 10219
Riyadh
11433
Saudi Arabia

Sponsor information

King Saud University
University/education

Building Number 24, College of Applied Medical Sciences
G095/1, Rehabilitation Research Chair
King Saud University
Riyadh
11433
Saudi Arabia

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02f81g417

Funders

Funder type

University/education

King Saud University
Private sector organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
جامعة الملك سعود, KSU
Location
Saudi Arabia

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2017
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe full study results will be published in mid 2017.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Mr Shahnawaz Anwer.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 12/04/2016 Yes No
Basic results 13/01/2017 25/01/2017 No No
Results article 09/04/2019 09/02/2023 Yes No

Additional files

ISRCTN12850845_BasicResults_13Jan17.docx
Uploaded 25/01/2017

Editorial Notes

09/02/2023: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
18/12/2017: Internal review.
25/01/2017: Basic results summary uploaded.
14/04/2016: Publication reference added.