Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, which most often affects the knee. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the end of bones wears away. The bones then rub against one another, which can cause stiffness, pain and a reduction in a person’s range of movement. A number of recent studies have shown that there is no link between perceived pain and the degree of joint wear, when measured with an x-ray. It has been suggested that this may happen because some OA patients are “over-reactive” to pain, because their brains amplify the pain signals coming from the affected joints. This over-reactivity to pain may trigger high levels of inappropriate muscle tension, which in-turn will increase joint loading (the force put on a weight-bearing joint during activity). The Alexander Technique (AT) teaches people how to avoid movements that cause unnecessary tension in their daily lives by increasing self-awareness and “unlearning” bad habits (such as patterns of muscle tension). It is taught by a qualified teacher who uses gentle hand contact and verbal instruction to guide movement, helping patients to become aware of, and to avoid, harmful muscle movements which can be applied to daily actions such as sitting or standing. The aim of this study is to find out whether the AT could help to lower pain and improve joint function in people suffering from knee OA.
Who can participate?
Adults over 40 years of age with knee osteoarthritis, and healthy adults of the same age.
What does the study involve?
All participants take part in 20 sessions over 14 weeks. During each 40 minute session, participants are taught the Alexander Technique by an experienced AT practitioner on a one-to-one basis. During the sessions, patients are encouraged to develop an awareness of patterns of muscle tension which can be triggered when they move which can interfere with practical tasks, such as standing up out of a chair. At the start of the study and at 15 weeks (after the 14 week AT course), participants are assessed in order to measure their pain and joint stiffness and function.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants could benefit from taking part as the AT is considered to be a beneficial form of health education which can affect other areas of health, such as improving breathing technique and reducing back pain. There are no risks for participants taking part in the study.
Where is the study run from?
Centre for Health Sciences Research, University of Salford (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2011 to December 2015
Who is funding the study?
The BUPA Foundation (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Stephen Preece
s.preece@salford.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Stephen Preece
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2434-732X
Contact details
Centre for Health Sciences Research
Blatchford Building
Stratham Street
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
+44 1612 952273
s.preece@salford.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Protocol v5
Study information
Scientific title
Can neuromuscular re-education with the Alexander Technique improve pain processing and reduce joint loading in patient with knee osteoarthritis?
Acronym
KOAT (Knee Osteoarthritis and and Alexander Technique)
Study hypothesis
The primary hypotheses of the study are:
1. The Alexander Technique (AT) would improve clinical measures of pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
2. The AT would reduce muscle co-contraction in patients with knee osteoarthritis
3. The AT would improve pain processing in patients with knee osteoarthritis
4. Improvements in pain would be related to improvements in muscle co-contraction and improvements in pain processing
Ethics approval
1. Ethics Committee of the University of Salford, 10/06/2011, ref: REP11/024
2. NHS North West 10 Research Ethics Committee - Greater Manchester North, 28/03/2011, ref: 11/NW/0057
Study design
Non randomised study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format. Please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
Knee osteoarthritis
Intervention
All participants receive the intervention which consists of 20 sessions over a period of 14 weeks. Each session lasts for 40 minutes and is delivered on a one-to-one basis by an experienced Alexander Technique (AT) practitioner. During the lessons patients were encouraged to develop an awareness of patterns of muscle tension which can be triggered as movement is initiated and also which can interfere with functional tasks, such as standing up out of a chair.
Patients are followed up immediately after the end of the intervention (14 weeks post baseline) and then again at 12 months after the end of the intervention (15 months post baseline).
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Pain is measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain component at baseline, immediately after the intervention and 15 months
2. Pain, joint stiffness & function an is measured using the full Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline, immediately after the intervention and 15 months
Secondary outcome measures
Joint movement and activity is determined by measuring muscle co-contraction between the medial quadriceps and medial hamstrings during the stance phase of walking and also during a sit-to-stand activity at baseline and after the intervention.
Overall trial start date
01/03/2011
Overall trial end date
01/12/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients:
1. Over the age of 40
2. Identified on GP record as having knee OA
3. Knee pain on walking
4. Able to speak and write fluent English
5. Able to attend at the University of Salford on two occasions for an assessment
6. Willing to attend for 20 AT lessons with a local practitioner
7. Willing to attend for a knee x-ray
Healthy participants
1. Over the age of 40
2. No musculoskeletal pain
3. Able to speak and write fluent English
4. Able to attend at the University of Salford on two occasions for an assessment
Participant type
Mixed
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
n=20 patients with knee OA and n=20 healthy participants
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Systemic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Balance or mobility disorders limiting their ability to perform the assessment.
3. Neurological or psychiatric disorder.
4. Malignancy
5. Diabetes
6. BMI greater than 33
Recruitment start date
01/10/2011
Recruitment end date
01/10/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Salford
Centre for Health Sciences Research
Blatchford Building
Stratham Street
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Salford
Sponsor details
Allerton Building
Frederick Road
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
The BUPA Foundation
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We plan to publish the results of this work as 2 separate journal papers, reporting clinical, biomechanical and physiological effects of the AT.
Intention to publish date
15/01/2016
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2016 results in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27568007