Active clinical trials for "Osteoarthritis"

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: 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). 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.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of OraVescent fentanyl for the potential treatment of breakthrough pain episodes in patients who have chronic noncancer pain.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the single point cane will relieve pain and disability in overweight or obese people with knee OA through altered joint biomechanics and what factors influence acceptance of cane use.

The purpose of this study is to compare the long-term safety and effectiveness of acetaminophen (4000 mg per day) and naproxen (750 mg per day) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

The purpose of the study is to determine if fentanyl, delivered through the skin via an adhesive patch, has a superior pain-relieving effect compared with placebo in patients with osteoarthritis pain that is inadequately controlled by therapeutic treatment with weak opioids, which are often taken in combination with non-opioid analgesics.

This study aims to assess the analgesic effectiveness and safety of three different doses of a new formulation of Lamaline® versus Dafalgan® Codeine after 10 days administration in subjects with painful gonarthrosis

In this randomised study a proactive care and rehabilitation intervention is compared to the current care and rehabilitation in patients undergoing primary hip and knee replacement surgery. A cost efficacy analysis in a societal perspective is made from effect data in the randomised controlled study together with cost data gathered during the perioperative and postoperative period. If the proactive care and rehabilitation intervention is cost effective the intervention is going to be implemented in Ringkøbing County. This implementation proces is measured within a monitoring project of all patients receiving hip or knee replacement surgery in Ringkøbing County in the period 2003 to 2007.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether shortwave diathermy is effective in reducing knee pain and increasing function of the patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability and pain among adults. Recent evidence suggests that shorter exercise programs that incorporate kinesthesia, balance and agility (KBA) techniques may result in more rapid symptom relief and functional improvements in comparison to traditional therapeutic exercise. KBA techniques are designed to improve dynamic joint stability by using a series of activities which challenge balance and coordination. To determine the independent effects of KBA training on functional abilities, it is necessary to test it as a training program unto itself. The proposed clinical trial is designed to do this by using three training groups: KBA only; lower extremity strength training only; and a combination of the two. The total exercise time and intensity of each condition will be approximately equal. A non-exercise group will control for any effects related to the testing procedures and the passage of time. Community volunteer men and women age 50 and over with physician diagnosed symptomatic knee OA will participate.

We will study 300 people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who receive their medical care from a large health maintenance organization (HMO) in Indianapolis. Our study will evaluate a comprehensive plan for treatment of knee OA by primary care physicians. Primary care physicians will provide standard care for knee OA to half of the study participants (150 people), and will use the comprehensive treatment plan guidelines to treat the other half. The comprehensive plan includes careful use of medications along with non-drug approaches such as patient education, exercise, and social support. People who participate in the study will receive care for knee OA for 1 year. We will measure the results (outcomes) of treatment at the start of the study and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after patients join the study. The results we will measure include joint pain, physical function, drug side effects, quality of life, satisfaction with OA care, and the cost of medical care.