Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the end of bones wears away. The bones then rub against one another, causing stiffness, pain and a reduction in the range of movement. The knee is the most common joint to be affected by OA and in many sufferers, the pain prevents people from moving around leading to muscle weakness and disability. Exercise is considered to be an important part of treatment for knee OA, however when the condition is particularly severe it is difficult to find effective training methods that do not cause the sufferer too much pain. Aquatic resistance training is a type of exercise where a person completes low-impact exercise, such as walking, through water. The natural resistance provided by the water helps to strengthen muscles without putting pressure on the bones and joints. The aim of this study is to find out whether aquatic resistance training can help to strengthen muscles and reduce knee symptoms such as pain and stiffness, in patients suffering from knee OA.
Who can participate?
Adults aged between 50 and 75 with severe OA who have had continuous knee pain for at least 6 months.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group take part in a 12 week course of aquatic resistance training. The training takes place twice a week in a hospital pool and is experienced by a trained physiotherapist. In the sessions participants where resistance boots (special boots designed to increase resistance) and complete low-impact exercises such as walking through the water. Those in the second group continue to receive standard care and do not take part in any extra training. At the start of the study and then again after 6 and 8 months, participants in both groups complete a number of questionnaires and physical tests in order to assess their muscle strength and knee symptoms.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All participants benefit from receiving information about their physical performance. Participants who are in the training group may benefit from improved muscle power and decreased knee symptoms. Risks of taking part are minor but some participants may experience temporary muscle pain after training.
Where is the study run from?
Kymenlaakso Central Hospital (Finland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2009 to October 2013
Who is funding the study?
Kymenlaakso Central Hospital Research Fund (Finland)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Anu Valtonen
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Preoperative aquatic resistance training program to increase muscle power and decrease knee symptoms in persons with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial
Acronym
ARISTO
Study hypothesis
Twelve week preoperative aquatic resistance training intervention will increase muscle power and decrease knee symptoms in persons with end-stage knee osteoarthritis compared to controls receiving standard care.
Ethics approval
Ethical committee of Kymenlaakso Central Hospital, 21/02/2005, ref: 2/2005/23.2.05
Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
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
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups.
Intervention group: Participants receive a 12-week progressive aquatic resistance training intervention that aims to decrease knee symptoms and increase muscle power. Group-based training is conducted in hospital pool and supervised by physiotherapist.
Control group: Participants receive the standard preoperative care, which includes written instructions for training.
Total duration of both preoperative study arms is 12 weeks. Participants are followed up from six to eight months postsurgery.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Muscle power is measured using isokinetic device at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
2. Knee symptoms are measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
Secondary outcome measures
1. Muscle torque is measured using isokinetic device at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
2. Thigh muscle cross-sectional area is measured using computed tomography at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
3. Walking speed is measured using maximal 10 meter walk test at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
4. Ability negotiating stairs is assessed by measured stair ascending and descending times at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
5. Mobility and balance is measured using the 8-figure-run test at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
6. Ability to get up from the chair is measured using the sit-to-stand test at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
7. Mobility and balance is measured using the timed up and go test (TUG) at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
8. Quality of life is measured using RAND 36-item health survey 1.0 at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 to 8 months postsurgery
Overall trial start date
01/01/2009
Overall trial end date
10/10/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 50 and 75 years
2. Medial knee osteoarthritis according a radiographic grading of Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) K/L 3 or K/L 4
3. Continuous knee pain lasting at least 6 months
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
50
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Lateral knee osteoarthritis
2. Patellofemoral osteoarthritis
3. Rheumatoides arthritis
4. Post-traumatic arthritis
5. Earlier osteotomy
6. Severe cardiovascular disease
7. Dementia
8. Urinary incontinence
Recruitment start date
01/05/2008
Recruitment end date
31/01/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Finland
Trial participating centre
Kymenlaakso Central Hospital
Kotkantie 41
Kotka
FIN-48210
Finland
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Kymenlaakso Central Hospital Research Fund
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results of randomised controlled trial with postoperative followup are planned to be published in a peer reviewed journal.
Intention to publish date
30/11/2016
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list