The biomechanical effect of rocker shoes in people with knee osteoarthritis

ISRCTN ISRCTN18313077
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18313077
Secondary identifying numbers Protocol v2
Submission date
17/11/2015
Registration date
23/11/2015
Last edited
16/08/2022
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 (OA) is a condition that causes the knees to become painful and stiff. It is strongly affected by the way in which the knee joint is loaded during activities (i.e., the force put on the knee joint). Previous studies have found that footwear which alters the loading at the knee joint can reduce the pain. However, to date there has been relatively little research investigating the potential effects of rocker shoes. These shoes have a curved sole and are designed to rock the foot forward when walking. This rocking action may change the way in which the muscles of the leg activate and this may bring about a corresponding change in the way the joint is loaded. Before undertaking a large study, it is important to understand the effects of rocker footwear. Therefore, this study has been designed to find out how this type of footwear changes muscle activation patterns and how it may impact on joint loading in both individuals with knee osteoarthritis and healthy volunteers.

Who can participate?
Knee osteoarthritis patients and healthy volunteers aged between 40-85.

What does the study involve?
Each participant attends a single laboratory testing session at the University of Salford, during which they will wear different types of footwear (i.e., rocker footwear and a flexible OA shoe) whilst muscle activation and 3D motion data is collected.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will experience different types of footwear, but we do not expect this to provide any significant benefits to participants. We are able to provide participants with travel expenses for participating. There are no risks of participating.

Where is the study run from?
University of Salford (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2015 to November 2017

Who is funding the study?
University of Salford (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Ali Algarni
a.s.s.algarni@edu.salford.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Stephen Preece
Scientific

Centre for Health Sciences Research
Blatchford Building
Stratham Street
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2434-732X
Phone +44 (0)161 295 2273
Email s.preece@salford.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised cross-over trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised cross over trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format. Please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleThe biomechanical effect of rocker shoes in people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised cross-over trial
Study objectivesThis study will therefore compare the biomechanical effect of this specific design of rocker shoe, with both a flexible shoe and also a standard control shoe.
Ethics approval(s)UK NHS ethics committee of East Midlands - Derby, 17/11/2015, REC ref: 15/EM/0502
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedKnee osteoarthritis
InterventionSingle-centre trial in which we plan to investigate the biomechanical effects of different footwear. This will be achieved with a laboratory cross-over study at the University of Salford, during which participants will wear the different types of footwear (rocker footwear and a flexible OA shoe) during a single testing session whilst biomechanical data (muscle activation and 3D motion) is collected.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMuscular co-contraction of the quadriceps and hamstrings and the quadriceps and gastrocnemius, derived from electromyography (EMG) data collected from the specified muscles during walking
Secondary outcome measures1. The knee extensor moment outcome calculated from force and kinematic (3D motion) data collected during walking
2. The centre of mass position derived from full-body 3D motion data during walking
Overall study start date23/11/2015
Completion date23/11/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Mixed
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants30 with OA and 30 healthy volunteers
Key inclusion criteria1. Age range 40-85 (upper age limit due to the amount of walking involved in the study)
2. Ability to stand and walk independently
3. Speak and understand written English
4. Ability to walk without any walk assistive for at least 250 m
5. Clinical diagnosis of knee OA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (Altman et al. 1986) (if they are a participant with knee OA)
6. Pain for at least 6 months' duration (if they are a participant with knee OA)
7. Pain or difficulty in rising from sitting and/or climbing stairs (if they are a participant with knee OA)
Key exclusion criteria1. Complex pain conditions such as diabetic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia
2. Have had previous surgery to the lower limb
3. BMI >33 since it is not possible to perform accurate measurements on individuals with excess adipose tissue
4. Lower limb arthroplasty
5. Any systemic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis
6. Any balance disorders which may increase the risk of a fall
Date of first enrolment23/11/2015
Date of final enrolment23/11/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University of Salford
Centre for Health Sciences Research
Blatchford Building
University of Salford
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Salford (UK)
Research organisation

Allerton Building
University of Salford
Salford
Manchester
M6 6PU
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01tmqtf75

Funders

Funder type

University/education

University of Salford (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date14/05/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planThe results will be submitted for publication in biomechanics and osteoarthritis journals
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Thesis results 18/12/2018 16/08/2022 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

16/08/2022: A link to a thesis was added.
14/05/2021: The intention to publish date has been added.