Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01241812

Biomarkers and Knee Osteoarthritis

High joint load during walking has been linked to cartilage degradation. Biomarkers, found in the blood and urine, are protein fragments released after cartilage degradation characteristic of OA. They have the potential to enable direct and immediate disease state monitoring and identification of early cartilage changes. Little is known about the association of biomarkers with joint load or if exercise aimed at reducing joint load changes biomarker levels, thus reducing the risk of OA progression. This study will provide novel information on these relationships and will guide future intervention studies. The investigators hypothesize that certain biomarkers will be highly correlated with joint loading during walking and that the levels of these biomarkers in the blood and urine will decrease following an exercise intervention aimed at cartilage unloading.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, Knee Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

50 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

About this study

Participants will be tested twice (baseline and 11 weeks later) where they will undergo gait and strength analyses by the same blinded assessor, complete self-report questionnaires, and have blood and urine samples drawn. Participants will then be randomized into either: (i) exercise; or (ii) usual care (no additional treatment). Those in the exercise group will complete 10-weeks of strengthening targeting lower limb muscles. Once weekly, they will consult with the study physiotherapist (MAH) at UBC to ensure proper performance and safe progression of exercises. Participants will be given cuff weights and resistance bands to complete exercises at home five times per week. Exercise compliance will be monitored using log books. All participants will be encouraged to maintain their usual treatment regimen (except for exercises completed by the exercise group), but will document any unexpected alterations such as medication changes or physician visits.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • age greater than 50 years (to meet the American College of Rheumatology clinical definition of OA)
  • radiographically confirmed knee OA in the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint
  • knee pain during walking greater than 3/10 (based on an 11-point scale; 0 = "no pain", 10 = "maximal pain") on most days of the previous month
  • predominance of pain/tenderness over the medial (inside) region of the knee

Exclusion criteria

  • articular cartilage degradation in the lateral tibiofemoral compartment greater than the medial (medial compartment OA is more common than lateral and the KAM is a validated measure of medial compartment loading only)
  • currently in a structured exercise program
  • medical condition precluding exercise
  • inflammatory arthritic condition
  • history of knee replacement surgery
  • recent use of corticosteroids (oral or via injection)
  • unable to attend exercise training sessions at UBC
  • pain originating predominantly from the patellofemoral joint
  • inability to ambulate without a gait aid
  • non-English speaking (questionnaires are in English and must be completed by the study participant only)
  • recent (within 6 months) arthroscopic knee surgery
  • significant hip or back pain (limits the ability to perform the testing and exercises)

Treatment and study plan

Lower limb muscle strengthening

Behavioral

Participants in the exercise group will receive a lower limb strengthening program consisting of 6 exercises targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip abductor groups. They will perform these exercises at home 4 times per week (3 sets of 10 repetitions per exercise). Over the course of the intervention, each participant will consult with the physiotherapist a total of 5 times (once per week in weeks: 1,2,3,5, and 8) to ensure proper performance of exercises and safe progression of resistance.

Primary outcomes

  1. Serum levels of biomarkers (COMP, HA, C2C, CP2) measured at baseline and 11 weeks

    Time frame: 11 weeks

  2. Urinary levels of biomarkers (CTX-2, C2C) measured at baseline and 11 weeks

    Time frame: 11 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Knee joint loading during walking (external knee adduction moment) measured at baseline and 11 weeks

    Time frame: 11 weeks

  2. Self-reported pain and physical function (WOMAC) measured at baseline and 11 weeks.

    Time frame: 11 weeks

  3. Isometric muscle strength (hamstrings, quadriceps, hip abductors) measured at baseline and 11 weeks

    Time frame: 11 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of British Columbia

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Arthritis Network

Registry information

Official study title

Biomarkers and Knee Osteoarthritis: Associations With Joint Load and Effects of Exercise

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Nov 16, 2010
Registry last updated
Oct 12, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.