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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00913575

Effect of Pre-surgery Neuromuscular Physiotherapy (PT)

Background:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative condition of large weight-bearing joints, such as the hip and knee, as well as small hand joints. Current interventions in patients with OA are limited to symptomatic pain relief and later with total joint replacement (TJR). While TJR improves function and pain, it does not fully restore function in most individuals. A key factor of functional outcome is probably conditioning before and after TJR surgery. However, this has not been studied conclusively in patients undergoing TKR surgery.

Objective:

1. Primary endpoint: To study the effect of a pre-surgery neuromuscular PT compared to an attention control program on lower extremity function measured by the Chair stands test (observed function) and the KOOS score (reported function). 2. Secondary endpoints will be muscle strength, walking time and mobility.

Hypothesis:

The investigators hypothesize that patients undergoing pre-surgery PT will be significantly quicker in performing the chair stands test and report a significant improvement in the KOOS at 3 months after surgery compared to controls.

Methods:

80 patients from a waiting list for unilateral TKR will be randomized to neuromuscular PT or an attention control group intervention in a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Assessments will be at baseline, at 3 months after surgery and at 12 months after surgery.

Intervention:

The neuromuscular PT group will receive a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 24 training sessions; all patients, including the control group, will receive 4 sessions of the Knee School.

Significance:

Given the demographic change with an increase in the older segment of the population there will be a rise in the absolute number of TKRs. It is therefore warranted to study pre-surgery neuromuscular PT to help patients get the most out of their joint replacement.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

60 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

University Hospital, Centre on Aging and Mobility

Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

About this study

Due to the demographic change with a significant increase in the older segment of the population, recent estimates in the United States suggest that the rate of TKR surgery will rise exponentially over the next decade. A similar trend is expected in Switzerland with a marked increase in the absolute number of TKR surgery. Today, patients waiting for TKR surgery in Switzerland are neither routinely participating in an active training program to reduce pain and improve function nor in an educational program to increase coping skills before surgery.

The intervention group will receive neuromuscular training as well as 4 sessions of the Knee OA School. Both will be offered in group sessions separate from the control group.

a) The neuromuscular training will take place under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist, 2 sessions a week of 60 minutes each. The training program, based on neuromuscular and biomechanical principles, according to the possibilities of the patient. The training sessions consists of three parts: warming up (ergometer cycling), a circuit program, and cooling down (walking, stretching, mobility). The circuit program comprises four exercise circles with the key elements of core stability, postural function, functional alignment, lower extremity muscle strength, and functional exercises.

b) The Knee School is an educational program and takes place in three group sessions and one individual follow-up session. Patients receive information about: anatomy and physiology of the knee (first group session); proposed physical activity and pain self-management (second group session); and the rehabilitation phase after surgery (third group session).

The control group will receive the Knee School sessions without the neuromuscular PT separate from the intervention group to avoid interaction between the groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Primary TKR for primary or secondary OA
  • Age 60 years or older
  • Community-dwelling
  • German language skills in word and writing

Exclusion criteria

  • Age older than 85 years
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Revision surgery
  • Plan to leave Switzerland before or/and after surgery
  • History of inflammatory arthritis
  • Unable to walk for at least 3 meters with or without walking aid

Treatment and study plan

preoperative neuromuscular training

Other

The neuromuscular training group will receive a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 24 training sessions; as well as 4 sessions of the Knee OA School.

Other names: exercise

knee OA School

Behavioral

The education group will only receive 4 sessions of the Knee OA School.

Other names: knee school

Primary outcomes

  1. Lower limb function by the Chair stands (observed measure)

    Time frame: 6 wks pre-surgery, 1 wk pre-surgery 3 months post-surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Lower limb function by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (observed measure)

    Time frame: 6 wks pre-surgery, 1 wk pre-surgery, 6 wks post-surgery, 3 months post-surgery, 12 months post-surgery

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Collaborators

  • Kantonsspital Aarau
  • Kantonsspital Olten
  • Lund University
  • Maastricht University

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Pre-surgery Neuromuscular Physiotherapy (PT) on Functional Outcome After Total Knee Replacement (TKR): A Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Acronym: Omega

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2013
First posted
Jun 4, 2009
Registry last updated
May 22, 2014

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.

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