The effect of the Mulligan mobilization with movement approach following knee replacement surgery

ISRCTN ISRCTN13028992
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13028992
Secondary identifying numbers 698/2018
Submission date
31/10/2018
Registration date
15/11/2018
Last edited
07/03/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Total knee replacement surgery is used to replace worn and painful knee joints that have been damaged by osteoarthritis (inflammation and destruction of bone and cartilage in joints) with an artificial knee joint. However, many patients experience loss of motion after surgery. The Mulligan mobilization with movement approach is a type of physiotherapy in which the patient's body is moved by a therapist. This approach has been found to reduce pain and improve range of motion for various conditions. This study aims to investigate whether it improves pain, range of motion and the ability to stand up and walk in patients who have had total knee replacement.

Who can participate?
Women aged 40-80 years with advanced knee osteoarthritis who have been scheduled for total knee replacement surgery.

What does the study involve?
The participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: Control and Mulligan. Both groups will receive the standard physiotherapy programs offered to people who have had knee replacement surgery for up to 3 months including exercises, walking, cycling and stair training. The Mulligan group will additionally receive six sessions of Mulligan mobilization to improve knee range of motion, which will be done manually with a Mulligan-certified physiotherapist.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The examinations which will be done at the four stages can be considered a benefit for the patients as they will be kept informed about the recovery of their knee. The standard physiotherapy program will be delivered to the two groups as usual, so there are no additional risks. The Mulligan group might benefit from receiving the individualized Mulligan mobilizations.

Where is the study run from?
Al-Razi Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, which is the main governmental hospital specializing in orthopedics (bone, muscle and joint medicine) in Kuwait.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2018 to September 2022

Who is funding the study?
This study is currently funded by the investigator; however, other funding will be sought in the near future.

Who is the main contact?
Dr. Najla Alsiri, dr.alsiri@outlook.com

Contact information

Dr Najla Alsiri
Scientific

Kuwait, Al-razi Orthopedic Hospital
kuwait
13001
Kuwait

Study information

Study designRandomized 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 contact dr.alsiri@outlook.com to request a participant information sheet.
Scientific titleThe Effect of Mulligan knee Mobilization with Movement Approach on pain and movement in patients who have undergone Total Knee Arthroplasty for osteoarthritis (EMMATKA): a randomized clinical trial
Study acronymEMMATKA
Study objectivesMulligan's mobilization with movement approach is effective for patients with acute total knee arthroplasty in terms of impairments, activity and participation.
Ethics approval(s)Kuwait Ministry of Health ethics committee, 14/05/2018, 698/2018
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAcute total knee arthroplasty
InterventionCurrent intervention as of 10/12/2018:
Patients will be randomized using an online research randomizer to either Mulligan or control group. Both groups will receive the standard physical therapy rehabilitation program from week 2 post-operation which will include cryotherapy, range of motion and strengthening exercises, full-weight-bearing gait training and this will be carried on daily in the in-patient department for 1 week, then carried on twice per week in the out-patient physical therapy department, where open kinematic chain exercises, cycling and stair training will be introduced. This program will be provided to the two groups up to 3 months. However, patients assigned to the Mullligan group will additionally receive Mulligan mobilization with movement approach for knee flexion which will start on the week 3 post-operation, during 3 weeks for six sessions, or fewer or more than six sessions depending on the clinical decision of the Mulligan practitioner. The practitioner could also decide to delay the start day of the application of the Mulligan Approach or reduce the repetitions and pressure in order to maintain the safety of the intervention for patients in the acute post-surgical period. Three certified Mulligan practitioners will conduct the intervention. According to the Mulligan approach, a pain-free mobilization technique will be used which could be medial rotation, lateral rotation, anterio-posterior, medial or lateral glide with knee flexion following Mulligan approach guidelines. Patients will be followed up for 6 months. Examinations will be performed at four timepoints by a blinded assessor; pre-operation, 3rd week post-operation when the Mulligan approach will be introduced, 6th week post-operation when the patient receives 6 sessions of Mulligan approach during 3 weeks, and at 6 months post-operation.

Previous intervention:
Patients will be randomized using concealed envelopes to either Mulligan or control group. Both groups will receive the standard physical therapy rehabilitation program from week 2 post-operation which will include cryotherapy, range of motion and strengthening exercises, full weight bearing gait training and this will be carried on daily in the in-patient department for 1 week, then carried on twice per week in the out-patient physical therapy department, where open kinematic chain exercises, cycling and strain training will be introduced. This program will be provided to the two groups up to 3 months. However, patients assigned to the Mullligan group will additionally receive Mulligan mobilization with movement approach for knee flexion which will start on the week 3 post-operation, during 3 weeks for six sessions. Three certified mulligan practitioners will conduct the intervention. According to the Mulligan approach, a pain-free mobilization technique will be used which could be medial rotation, lateral rotation, anterio-posterior, medial or lateral glide with knee flexion following Mulligan approach guidelines. Patients will be followed up for 6 months. Examinations will be performed at four timepoints by a blinded assessor; pre-operation, 3rd week post-operation when the Mulligan approach will be introduced, 6th week post-operation when the patient receives 6 sessions of Mulligan approach during 3 weeks, and at 6 months post-operation.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measure1. Knee range of motion measured using the standard 12-cm goniometer in supine position
2. Knee pain intensity measured using a Visual Analogue Scale during both rest and movement
3. Knee mechanical axis measured using the scanogram
All outcomes will be measured before surgery, and at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.
Secondary outcome measures1. Mobility assessed using timed up and go (TUG) test timed using a stopwatch
2. Walking speed assessed using 15-m walk test timed using a stopwatch
3. Effect of OA on knee pain, stiffness and function assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis (OA) index (WOMAC)
All outcomes will be measured before surgery, and at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.
Overall study start date01/02/2018
Completion date30/09/2022

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexFemale
Target number of participants80
Total final enrolment84
Key inclusion criteria1. Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria
2. Scheduled for TKA due to symptoms of OA
3. Aged 40-80 years
Key exclusion criteria1. Secondary OA
2. Inflammatory joint disease, including inflammatory arthritis
3. Trauma to knee joint, including history of fractures in or adjacent to the joint
4. Peripheral vascular disease
5. Cardiac disease
6. Cannot understand, read and write Arabic
7. Neurological deficits
Date of first enrolment28/10/2018
Date of final enrolment30/09/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Kuwait

Study participating centre

Al-Razi Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital
Jamal Abdul Nasser St
Sulaibikhat
Kuwait City
13001
Kuwait

Sponsor information

Kuwait Ministry of Health
Hospital/treatment centre

Jamal Abdul Nasser St
Sulaibikhat
Kuwait City
13001
Kuwait

Phone 00965-24877219 ext 2996
Email healthresearch@moh.gov.kw
Website https://www.moh.gov.kw/en
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/036njfn21

Funders

Funder type

Other

self-funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/07/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe study will be published in high-impact journals and will be presented at international conferences.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Dr Najla Alsiri, dr.alsiri@outlook.com. The data will be stored in SPSS files for 3 years after data collection completion. Patient personal information will not be shared. Each patient will be assigned an ID number to anonymize them. Only the results of the measured outcomes will be analyzed and shared.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 01/03/2021 13/10/2020 Yes No

Editorial Notes

07/03/2024: The intention to publish date was changed from 28/12/2023 to 31/07/2024.
08/06/2023: The intention to publish date was changed from 28/12/2022 to 28/12/2023.
19/10/2022: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 28/10/2022 to 30/09/2022.
2. The overall end date was changed from 28/12/2022 to 30/09/2022.
3. The total final enrolment was added.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
01/06/2021: The recruitment resumes on 06/06/2021.
16/10/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 28/10/2020 to 28/10/2022.
2. The overall end date was changed from 28/05/2021 to 28/12/2022.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 28/05/2022 to 28/12/2022.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
13/10/2020: Publication reference added.
24/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
10/12/2018: The intervention has been changed.