Build Better Bones With Exercise (B3E)

Build Better Bones With Exercise: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Exercise in Women With Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), University of Western Ontario, Canada, University Health Network, Toronto, McMaster University, University of Melbourne, University of British Columbia

The long-term goal of our research team is to conduct a large multicentre study to evaluate whether tailored home exercise can prevent fractures in high-risk individuals. The proposed project will address the feasibility of such a trial, but will also evaluate the effect of exercise on quality of life, posture and many other outcomes important to individuals with vertebral fractures. Physiotherapists will conduct 6 home visits with participants to deliver the intervention (or social visit for controls) using a similar model to previous work by our team and others. The purpose of this pilot study is determining the feasibility of recruitment, retention and adherence of an international multicentre randomized controlled study evaluating the efficacy of thrice-weekly home exercise for one year among women with vertebral fracture. As secondary objectives, the investigators will examine the effects of exercise on function, balance, quality of life, pain, falls and fractures. The primary hypothesis is that the investigators will successfully recruit and retain the target sample, and achieve an adherence rate of 60%.

There is limited data available from which to develop guidelines for safe and effective exercise prescription among individuals with hip or vertebral fractures. The long-term goal of our research team is to conduct a large multi-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether participating in a thrice-weekly home exercise program for one year can reduce incident fragility fractures among women aged 65 years or older with a history of vertebral fracture compared to no intervention. The current study is a pilot study with the principal objective of determining the feasibility of recruitment, retention and adherence of an international multicentre RCT evaluating the efficacy of thrice-weekly home exercise for one year among women with vertebral fracture. The intervention was developed by experts in exercise prescription based on a rigorous literature review and Cochrane meta-analysis we have conducted. Physiotherapists will conduct 6 home visits with participants to deliver the intervention (or social visit for controls) using a similar model to previous work by our team and others. Secondary outcomes of the pilot study are those hypothesized to be among the causal pathway linking exercise to fracture risk, including lower extremity strength, posture, balance, as well as falls and fractures. Additional secondary outcomes include quality of life, pain, exercise self-efficacy, the cost of the intervention, and the risk of adverse events associated with exercise. The recruitment and retention process will be summarized using a CONSORT flow diagram, and the reporting of results will be in accordance with the CONSORT criteria. Analyses of feasibility objectives will be descriptive or based on estimates with 95% confidence intervals, where feasibility will be assessed relative to criteria defined a priori. Differences in secondary outcomes will be evaluated in intention to treat analyses via independent student T-tests, Chi Square or logistic regression. The Bonferroni method will be used to adjust the level of significance for secondary outcomes so the overall level is alpha=0.05. Even if the larger trial proves not to be feasible, the current trial will be one of the largest exercise studies among a representative group of women with vertebral fracture to date, and will evaluate the feasibility and costs of a comprehensive home exercise program, and its effect on important secondary outcomes. Osteoporosis Canada has defined a need to develop patient resources on exercise and recently announced a shift in priority to individuals with existing fractures; the proposed pilot study is timely and will directly inform these knowledge translation initiatives.

The exercise program will include strength training, balance training and cardiovascular exercise that is individually tailored to the participants' abilities. The physical therapist will also implement strategies to assist with behaviour change, such as documenting progress in a log, participating in action planning and coping planning, and using techniques in the spirit of motivational interviewing.

Participants in the control group will receive equal attention, but will not be prescribed exercise, or participate in counselling about exercise. The physical therapist will discuss topics related to general health.

cardiovascular exercise (e.g., marching, walking) for ≥10 minutes per day postural retraining and balance exercises ≥3 days a week (will be encouraged to do these daily) perform muscle strengthening and balance training exercises ≥ 3 days a week the exercise intervention was developed using the Bone Fit program as a framework (http://www.bonefit.ca/). The physical therapist will tailor exercises and work with participant to integrate them into their day.

Number of participants recruited and retained. Criteria for success = 20 recruited per site and at least 75% retained.

Number of exercise sessions completed relative to prescribed. We will use a diary for participants to self-report adherence.

Incident fracture will be a composite outcome of a vertebral fracture or fragility fracture (excluding fractures due to trauma or cancer). A fracture questionnaire will be used to ascertain the occurrence of fractures, the approximate timing and the cause with fracture occurrence, location and severity verified through health record data. Lateral thoracic and lumbar spine x-rays will be performed on participants at baseline (to confirm prevalent vertebral fractures) and follow-up (to identify new fractures). Vertebral fractures will be defined as radiographic presence of ≥25% reduction in anterior, middle or posterior height of a vertebra using the Genant visual semi-quantitative method.

The SPPB consists of balance tests (side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem standing), gait speed during 4-meter walk test, and the average time taken to rise from a chair with arms folded across chest and sit back down (Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand test), sub-scores of which are added to determine a composite score (0-12), with higher scores indicative of better performance.

Balance Outcome Measure for Elder Rehabilitation (BOOMER) includes the step test, the Timed Up and Go, the Functional Reach test and the timed static stance feet together eyes closed test. The sub-scores of which are added to create a composite score (0-16), with higher scores indicating better performance.

Quality of Life (QoL) and Pain Scores Measured Through the EuroQOL Instrument (EQ5D5L) and the Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

OQLQ scores range 1-7, with higher scores indicate greater quality of life. EQ5D5L VAS scores range 0-100, with higher scores indicating better overall health. VAS pain scores range 0-10, with lower scores indicating less pain.

To assess self-efficacy related to engaging in exercise, participants will be asked "Over the next 3 months, how confident are you that you can perform exercise on most days of the week?" and "Over the next 3 months, how confident are you that you can perform exercise on 3 days of the week?." To assess implementation intentions, participants are asked "Do you already have concrete plans regarding exercise?". Patients will rate their answers on a scale from 1-5. Higher scores indicate greater exercise self-efficacy.

Questionnaire about how concerned the participant is about the possibility of falling during common daily activities. Scores range from 7 (no concern about falling) to 28 (severe concern about falling.

Questionnaire regarding much did the participant's spine fracture(s) or osteoporosis affect their productivity while working? The scale is 0-10, with higher numbers indicating more effect on their work.

A modified version of the Short-Form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be completed. A subset of participants at the University of Waterloo (St. Mary's General Hospital) will wear an accelerometer for 7 days.

Defined as death or event that is life-threatening, requires hospitalization or results in disability.

Any vertebral fracture (Genant Grade 1 or higher) found on x-ray, divided into location groupings of T1-T3, T4-T8, T9-L1, and L2-L5.

Inclusion Criteria: Has a) a known or suspected vertebral fracture of non-traumatic etiology OR b) one of the following: documented height loss of ≥2cm historical height loss of ≥6cm visible hyperkyphosis age greater than or equal to 65 years of age able to understand instructions in english able to give informed consent (no cognitive impairment) Exclusion Criteria: Current or prior cancer On dialysis, known liver, kidney or malabsorption disease Progressive neurological disorder, unable to stand or walk for 10 metres, with/without gait aid or progressive disorder likely to prevent study completion, palliative care. Current participation in muscle strengthening or similar exercise program ≥ 3 times per week Uncontrolled hypertension or other contraindications to exercise

Gibbs JC, McArthur C, Wark JD, Thabane L, Scherer SC, Prasad S, Papaioannou A, Mittmann N, Laprade J, Kim S, Khan A, Kendler DL, Hill KD, Cheung AM, Bleakney R, Ashe MC, Adachi JD, Giangregorio LM. The Effects of Home Exercise in Older Women With Vertebral Fractures: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther. 2020 Apr 17;100(4):662-676. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzz188.

Giangregorio LM, Thabane L, Adachi JD, Ashe MC, Bleakney RR, Braun EA, Cheung AM, Fraser LA, Gibbs JC, Hill KD, Hodsman AB, Kendler DL, Mittmann N, Prasad S, Scherer SC, Wark JD, Papaioannou A. Build better bones with exercise: protocol for a feasibility study of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of 12 months of home exercise in women with a vertebral fracture. Phys Ther. 2014 Sep;94(9):1337-52. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20130625. Epub 2014 May 1.