Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04732962

Biomechanical Footwear as a Non-invasive Alternative and Supplement to Total Knee Replacement

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, affects more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. It is also among the most expensive condition to treat when joint replacement surgery is required. Although biomechanics plays an important role in OA disease, the non-surgical treatment options addressing biomechanics are scarce with limited effect. AposHealth is the fist biomechanical treatment that was shown to have a significant short-term effect on patients with knee OA.

The main objectives of this study are:

1. To assess AposHealth, a non-invasive home-based biomechanical treatment, as an alternative treatment for patients who are eligible for Total Knee Replacement (TKR). 2. To assess AposHealth as a new post-operative rehabilitation tool for patients post TKR.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

45 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States

Loading trial locations.

About this study

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type of arthritis, affects more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. It is also among the most expensive condition to treat when joint replacement surgery is required. Future projections of the prevalence of OA predict an increase in prevalence, mainly due to the aging of the population and obesity.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is the end-stage solution for patients with knee OA. The total annual cost of arthritis in the U.S. in 2013 reached over $300 billion. Expenditure is expected to grow significantly in response to the increase in prevalence and the projected number of TKRs.

Successful and beneficial non-invasive treatment options for knee OA are limited. More specifically, although biomechanics plays an important role in OA disease, the non-surgical treatment options addressing biomechanics are scarce with limited effect. AposHealth is the fist biomechanical treatment that was shown to have a significant short-term effect on patients with knee OA.

The main objectives of this study are:

  • To assess AposHealth, a non-invasive home-based biomechanical treatment, as an alternative treatment for patients who are eligible for TKR.
  • To assess AposHealth as a new post-operative rehabilitation tool for patients post TKR.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Men or non-pregnant women
  • Between ages 45 and 80, inclusive
  • ACR clinical criteria for OA of the knee
  • Symptomatic uni- or bilateral OA of the knee for at least six months
  • Radiological criteria: X-rays showing tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis defined as at least Kellgren and Lawrence Grade 2
  • At least a moderate NPRS pain score at baseline (≥5)
  • Score of 1-3 based on the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System
  • Willing and able to read, comprehend, and sign the study informed consent form in English prior to study specific procedure

Exclusion criteria

  • Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40
  • History of an inflammatory rheumatic disease
  • Non-knee musculoskeletal pain that is more severe than the knee pain
  • Corticosteroids injections in the knees in the previous 6 weeks
  • Previous major surgery to the knee such as osteotomy, hemiprosthesis, unilateral total joint replacement excluding knee arthroscopy > 6 months
  • Patients with Geisinger Health Plan insurance for whom Apos is a covered treatment
  • Patients with a recent history (<3 months) of a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety
  • Problems with balance (>2 unexplained falls within the last 12 months; experiencing regular dizziness that has caused a trip or fall; using a walking aid to get around such as a rollator, cane, walker)

Treatment and study plan

AposHealth

Device

AposHealth is comprised of a unique footwear (Apos device) and uses two convex pods called "Pertupods", which are screwed into the plantar surface of the sole so that a person walks on these pods. A trained Apos therapist calibrates the devices. The location of the pods is adjusted according to the treatment methodology, depending on the needed effect on unloading the knee and with the purpose of potentially alleviating pain immediately.

Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

Procedure

A total knee replacement occurs when a diseased or damaged knee joint is totally replaced with an artificial joint called an implant. The implant consists of high-grade metal and plastic components that fuse to the resurfaced bone. It is designed to move like a healthy human joint.

Primary outcomes

  1. pain: Numerical Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 12 months

    score range: worst 0 - 10 best

Secondary outcomes

  1. Veterans RAND 12 Health Survey (VR-12) physical component score

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

    patient's overall perspective of their physical health; worst 15 - 63 best

  2. Koos Jr

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

    short form of knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome questionnaire; worst 0 - 100 best

  3. pain: Numerical Pain Rating Scale

    Time frame: 3 and 6 months

    score range: worst 0 - 10 best

  4. Step length (left and right)

    Time frame: 6 and 12 months

    A computerized mat is used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System). The gait mat detects pressure data during gait, during balance, and additional movement protocols. During the gait test, all patients are asked to walk barefoot at a self-selected speed. Patients walk 3 meters before and after the walkway mat to allow sufficient acceleration and deceleration time outside the measurement area. Each gait test included 6 walks and the mean value of the 6 walks is calculated for step length (in centimeters).

  5. Single limb support (SLS): % gait cycle (left and right)

    Time frame: 6 and 12 months

    A computerized mat is used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System). The gait mat detects pressure data during gait, during balance, and additional movement protocols. During the gait test, all patients are asked to walk barefoot at a self-selected speed. Patients walk 3 meters before and after the walkway mat to allow sufficient acceleration and deceleration time outside the measurement area. Each gait test included 6 walks and the mean value of the 6 walks is calculated. A single gait cycle is defined from heel strike of one limb to the next heel strike (of the mane limb). A gait cycle is comprised of 2 phases: Stance (limb on the ground) and swing (limb swings forward). The stance phase is divided into SLS (one limb is on the ground while the other limb swings forward) and double limb support (both feet are on the ground). The absolute time of SLS will be converted to percent of gait cycle for standardization purposes.

  6. Gait velocity

    Time frame: 6 and 12 months

    A computerized mat is used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System). The gait mat detects pressure data during gait, during balance, and additional movement protocols. During the gait test, all patients are asked to walk barefoot at a self-selected speed. Patients walk 3 meters before and after the walkway mat to allow sufficient acceleration and deceleration time outside the measurement area. Each gait test included 6 walks and the mean value of the 6 walks is calculated for velocity (meter/second).

  7. Symmetry index (SI) for step length

    Time frame: 6 and 12 months

    A computerized mat is used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System). The gait mat detects pressure data during gait, during balance, and additional movement protocols. During the gait test, all patients are asked to walk barefoot at a self-selected speed. Patients walk 3 meters before and after the walkway mat to allow sufficient acceleration and deceleration time outside the measurement area. Each gait test included 6 walks and the mean value of the 6 walks is calculated for step length (in centimeters).

    Temporal distance (T-D) symmetry is used to calculate Symmetry Index (SI) for step length using the formula: (involved-uninvolved)/[(involved+uninvolved)/2)] x 100. SI value of zero represents perfect symmetry and up to 5% difference between limbs is considered normal.

  8. Symmetry index (SI) for single limb support (SLS)

    Time frame: 6 and 12 months

    A computerized mat is used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System). Each gait test included 6 walks and the mean value is calculated. A single gait cycle is defined from heel strike of one limb to the next heel strike (of the mane limb). A gait cycle is comprised of 2 phases: Stance (limb on the ground) and swing (limb swings forward). The stance phase is divided into SLS (one limb is on the ground while the other limb swings forward) and double limb support (both feet are on the ground). The absolute time of SLS will be converted to % of gait cycle for standardization purposes. Temporal distance (T-D) symmetry is used to calculate Symmetry Index (SI) for SLS (% gait cycle) using the formula: (involved-uninvolved)/[(involved+uninvolved)/2)] x 100. SI value of zero represents perfect symmetry and up to 5% difference between limbs is considered normal.

  9. Decay rate in AposTherapy group

    Time frame: 12 months

    Number of patients assigned to AposTherapy only group who schedule a TKR before end of study period

  10. Pain medication intake

    Time frame: 3, 6, and 12 months

    Self-reported daily total milligrams of analgesic medication consumed

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Kenneth Sams

CONTACT

[email protected]

570-214-4806

Michael Suk, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

570-271-6541

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Geisinger Clinic

Other

Collaborators

  • Apos Medical and Sports Technology Ltd.

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of a Biomechanical Footwear as a Non-invasive Alternative to Total Knee Replacement and as an Additional Rehabilitation Regimen Postoperatively

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 1, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 30, 2025

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.