Study of Wearable Interventions for Improving Mobility of Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis

Inclusion criteria

• Any gender
• 21+ years of age
• Doctor-diagnosed tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis
• Self-report knee pain or stiffness on most days of the past month
• Self-report of difficulty walking due to at least one knee
• Self-report of restricted walking behavior (not engaging in 150 minutes of moderate walking a week) due to at least in part one knee
• Able to walk one block without the use of an assistive device (e.g. a cane or walker)
• Able to engage in a walking activity program with the wearable intervention for approximately 30 minutes using standing or sitting rests as needed

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to walk at least 10 minutes in the community due to an existing cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, or neurological condition
• Planning knee, hip, ankle or back surgery within the next 6-months
• Ankle or hip osteoarthritis
• Inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, Lymes Disease, Lupus)
• Bilateral total knee replacements
• Use of an assistive device (e.g., walker or cane) in home or in the community
• Self-reported fall within the past 6-months that resulted in limitations in daily activities
• Lower extremity/foot peripheral neuropathy or other sensory disorders
• Diagnosed with vestibular or other balance disorder that impact walking
• Open wounds or active skin irritation on the leg shank
• Open wounds or active ulcers of either feet
• Unstable cardiovascular disease
• Unstable respiratory disease
• History of past or current deep vein thrombosis
• Active back pain that limits walking
• Use of supplemental oxygen to walk