
A Biomechanical Exercise Program for Knee OA
OsteoarthritisKneePrescribing exercise for people with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) is essential for pain management, improved function, and chronic disease prevention. Exercise that decreases joint exposure to damaging loading while eliciting adequate muscular activation for strength improvements is ideal. The purpose of this 3-arm RCT is to compare mobility, strength, pain, and MRI outcomes between the low-loading biomechanical exercise program (BE), a traditional exercise program for knee OA (TE), and a control group completing meditation classes (M).

The Effectiveness of Kinesio Taping Method for Knee Osteoarthritis.
Knee OsteoarthritisPurpose of our study is to evaluate effectiveness of Kinesio Taping method for knee osteoarthritis. Using simple concealed randomization procedure to form two groups (kinesio taping and control-nonspecific taping) of 100 knee osteoarthritis patients in each. 1 month all patients (depending on the group they will be allocated to) will receive either kinesio taping applications or non-specific taping: 4 applications per subject. Three times: before taping, after a month with tapes, and after 1 month without tapes evaluation of knee function, mobility, quality of life will be evaluated, including clinical examination of knee joint, measurements of knee flexion and extension by goniometer, circumference of leg over the knee, in ½ of thigh and in ½ of calf (to evaluate edema); pain will be evaluated by questionnaire, patella tendon algometry; force of calf flexors and extensors will be evaluated using Lovett manual muscle testing scale, goniometry for knee flexion/extension; for mobility, knee function, life quality evaluations - 10 Meter Walk , Five Times Sit to Stand Tests will be performed, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 2 version (SF-36 2v) questionnaires will be used. Also data about the need of analgesic medicament will be collected from subjects.

The Impaction of Exercise Training on Bone Mineral Density in Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty...
Knee OsteoarthritisArthropathy of KneeRehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) should consider control of postoperative pain and swelling, protection of the healing graft, restoration of full range of motion symmetric to the contralateral knee, strengthening of the muscles that stabilize the knee, hip, and trunk, enhancing neuromuscular control, and a gradual progression to functional activities that are required for return to the normal daily life. The effects of concomitant injuries and surgical procedures must also be considered in planning an individualized rehabilitation program. However, it is still unclear regarding the optimal exercise prescription after TKA. In the current study, the investigators plan to develop an exercise protocol and evaluate the result in a multidisciplinary approach, i.e. bone mineral density assessment. The exercise prescription consisted of cyclic exercise, aerobic exercise and resistant training exercise for first, second and third year, respectively. Cyclic exercise is advantaged safety and effectiveness of hydraulic resistance equipment, as well as the exercise can be quantitatively determined. Aerobic exercise is privileged by the cardiopulmonary endurance improvement, along with muscle strengthening in the associated muscle groups. Resistance exercise is specified for the indicated muscle groups, especially knee extensors, flexors, ankle plantar flexor and dorsi flexor in TKA reconstructed patients. The investigators hypothesis that using this cyclic exercise process can improve the body composition, muscle strength, bone mass density, level of oxidative damage indicators, gait performance, quality of life, knee joint range of motion, function of cardiopulmonary and fitness. This project will establish the scientific basis for rehabilitation protocol involving knee surgery.

Effectiveness of a Decision Aid for Knee Osteoarthritis
OsteoarthritisKneeThe main goal of this study is assess the effectiveness of a DA for patients with knee osteoarthritis candidates to ART

Cross-over Study of the Efficacy and Safety of SierraSil Joint Formula 14 in Osteoarthritis of the...
Osteoarthritis of the KneeOsteoarthritis (OA) affects approximately 10% of people older than 60 years, and compromises the quality of life of more than 21 million North Americans. Studies on the use of complimentary and alternative medicines have reported that OA patients in the US are among the highest users of CAM. Previous studies on a unique natural mineral product SierraSil® demonstrated an improvement in joint health and function in subjects with mild to moderate OA of the knee. Extracts of Sierrasil® are reported to reduce cartilage degradation in response to IL-8 and nitric oxide production suggesting an ability to suppress IL-8 mediated events in human cartilage. The primary objective is to assess the efficacy of SeirraSil Joint Formula versus placebo on the symptoms of osteoarthritis as assessed by WOMAC™ Osteoarthritis Index Pain subscale in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee.

To Look at the Characteristics of Synovial Fluid and Cartilage Matrix in Osteoarthritic Knee After...
Knee OsteoarthritisThe purpose of this study is to identify novel imaging markers for characterizing the biochemical profiles in synovial fluid and cartilage matrix in OA knee joints after intra-articular HA (Euflexxa) injection using high field NMR and MRI techniques. We hypothesize that: High-field HRMAS NMR spectroscopy will provide sensitive measures for biochemical changes within knee synovial fluid after HA injection; Baseline HRMAS spectroscopy, in particular N-acetyl peaks, as well as early changes of glutamate will predict patient response of pain relief after HA injection; MR cartilage T1p and T2 quantifications will provide sensitive measures for biochemical changes within knee cartilage matrix after HA injection. Specifically cartilage T1p and T2 will decrease in patients who respond to the treatment, indicating potential beneficial effects of HA injection to cartilage preservation.

Strengthening Exercise and Quadriceps Force During Walking
Knee OsteoarthritisThis is a longitudinal, randomized, controlled interventional multi centric study on the effects of lower leg strengthening exercise on quadriceps force during walking in people with knee osteoarthritis. At each study centre twenty subjects will be included, for a total of 40 participants. Subjects will be randomized equally (1:1) into 1 active arm and 1 control arm. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of twelve weeks of quadriceps strengthening on the mechanical output of the quadriceps during locomotion. A secondary purpose is to explore the relationship between quadriceps strengthening and compressive knee loadings. The hypothesis is that quadriceps strength training will not change quadriceps force, power, and work in locomotion in people with knee osteoarthritis. Primary outcome is quadriceps force during walking, secondary outputs are quadriceps power and work and knee compressive loads during walking. Explorative measures are isometric and concentric isokinetic leg muscle strength, radiographic score of the knee (Kellgren and Lawrence), a one-leg rise from chair test (maximum number of reps) and a lateral step-up test (maximum number of reps).

Effect Of Meloxicam Versus Placebo In Mainland Chinese Patients With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee...
Osteoarthritis of the KneeThis study is to validate the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) tool in mainland Chinese patients with osteoarthritis of the knee . This study will also evaluate the effects of Mobic versus placebo on reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis in this population.

Assessment of Efficacy of Low Intensity Resistance Training in Women at Risk for Symptomatic Knee...
Knee OsteoarthritisSymptomatic Knee OsteoarthritisThe purpose of this study is to asses the efficacy of a 4 week low-intensity resistance training program with concurrent application of partial blood flow restriction (PBFR) to the exercising limbs to improve quadriceps strength and size, leg muscle power, and mobility in women at risk for developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The primary outcome will be change in isotonic double leg-press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength. The investigators will test the following hypotheses. In comparison with low-intensity resistance training without use of PBFR, a four-week low-intensity resistance-training program with PBFR will: Primary Hypothesis: Increase (a) double leg-press 1RM strength and (b) isokinetic knee extensor strength Secondary Hypotheses: Increase quadriceps muscle volume assessed by MRI Increase lower limb muscle power on (a) double leg-press at 40% 1RM and (b) a timed stair climb Not adversely effect knee pain or quality of life assessed by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire

Group Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
OsteoarthritisPain management is a priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, and knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a main cause of chronic pain. Veterans who receive care within the VA health care system have higher rates and more severe OA than both the general population of adults and veterans who receive health care elsewhere. Physical therapy (PT) is a primary part of treatment for knee OA, but in the VA health care system PT appointments are a limited resource, and veterans often do not receive enough visits to promote long-term improvements in pain and physical function. New models of delivery, such as the group-based approach examined in this study, are needed to expand PT services in a cost-effective manner.