Neuromuscular Exercise : A Novel Treatment To Reduce Symptoms And Joint Load In Medial Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$719,199.00
Summary
There is currently no cure for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thus treatments are needed that not only reduce symptoms but also slow disease progression. Exercise is recommended for knee OA but traditional thigh muscle strengthening exercises do not appear to be effective in all cases and may not slow the disease. This project will compare novel 'neuromuscular exercise' and compare it to traditional strengthening exercise. The results have the potential to alter current exercise prescription
A Randomised Trial Of Zoledronic Acid For Osteoarthritis Of The Knee
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$989,238.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is increasing markedly due to an ageing population. Despite its large disease burden, there are currently no approved disease-modifying drugs available which modify structural progression of OA. The aim of this study is to compare zoledronic acid treatment to placebo on knee structural change and knee pain over two years. It is hypothesised that zoledronic acid will reduce cartilage loss, knee pain, and bone marrow lesion size.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) And Neuromuscular Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,248.00
Summary
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive (ACLR) following ACL rupture is a successful surgery that improves stability of the knee joint. However, evidence is emerging that despite undergoing reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is prevalent in the proceeding years. The proposed research aims to improve biomechanical abnormalities by providing a neuromuscular intervention. This could lead to a more optimal biomechanical pattern which could reduce the degenerative changes occu ....Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructive (ACLR) following ACL rupture is a successful surgery that improves stability of the knee joint. However, evidence is emerging that despite undergoing reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is prevalent in the proceeding years. The proposed research aims to improve biomechanical abnormalities by providing a neuromuscular intervention. This could lead to a more optimal biomechanical pattern which could reduce the degenerative changes occurring within the knee of ACLR patients.Read moreRead less
Young People With Old Knees: Knee Ligament Reconstruction And Early Joint Changes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,727.00
Summary
Individuals who have undergone a knee reconstruction are at increased risk of knee osteoarthritis - 'younger people with older knees'. This may be partly due to increased knee load. This study aims to investigate whether muscle strength and activation as well as walking patterns influence changes in the knee joint structure as measured on magnetic resonance imaging. This may lead to rehabilitation strategies to address these factors so as to prevent the premature onset of knee osteoarthritis.
Reducing Knee Load And Slowing Disease Progression With Conservative Interventions In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,503.00
Summary
Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for arthritis, interventions that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Recently it has been postulated that specific exercise that targets how the muscles are controlled by the nervous system may have greater disease-modifying effects than exercise aimed at strengthening the muscles. Data are beginning to highlight the co ....Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for arthritis, interventions that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Recently it has been postulated that specific exercise that targets how the muscles are controlled by the nervous system may have greater disease-modifying effects than exercise aimed at strengthening the muscles. Data are beginning to highlight the complexity of muscle strategies adopted by the nervous system to compensate for joint derangement in knee arthritis. It is our contention that there may be specific strategies that provide more optimal knee joint loading in relation to slowing disease progression. The first part of this project is to investigate knee control in people with knee arthritis and to evaluate whether this influences disease progression. This will provide the basis for refinement and optimisation of rehabilitation interventions for this patient group. The second part of this project will investigate whether strengthening the hip muscles in patients with knee arthritis influences knee load and hence disease progression. Hip muscle strengthening is currently not routinely included as part of the management of knee arthritis. If the results of this project find it to be effective, then hip muscle strengthening can be recommended for treating knee arthritis.Read moreRead less
Young Adults With Old Knees: Prevalence Of Early-onset Knee Osteoarthritis Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction And Exploration Of Clinical Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,204.00
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Little is known about OA development and progression in the early stages of disease, less than five years post-ACLR. This study aims to evaluate the development and presence of OA from at five years post-ACLR and to explore factors that can determine who is likely to have worsening of early-onset OA. This information can be used to develop treatments that may be used to slow OA progression.
Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) To Improve Understanding Of Knee Osteoarthritis And Develop Effective Therapeutic Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is increasing markedly due to an ageing population. This program of research uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve our understanding about knee osteoarthritis. It will examine knee structural change over time using unique 10-year follow-up MRI measures from a pre-existing case-control study. This program of research will also examine two randomised controlled trials which aim to evaluate therapeutic treatments for the disease.
Effects Of Laterally Wedged Insoles On Symptoms And Disease Progression In Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,850.00
Summary
Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for knee arthritis, strategies that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Most research has focussed on drug therapies, which are effective in reducing pain and disability but have side effects and are expensive. Insoles worn inside the shoes are a simple, cheap, self-administered intervention with the potential to slow di ....Knee arthritis is a painful, disabling, costly condition particularly affecting the elderly. As there is presently no cure for knee arthritis, strategies that slow progression of the disease will reduce the personal and societal burden of arthritis. Most research has focussed on drug therapies, which are effective in reducing pain and disability but have side effects and are expensive. Insoles worn inside the shoes are a simple, cheap, self-administered intervention with the potential to slow disease progression in certain patients, in addition to managing symptoms. However, to date there has been little quality research investigating the effectiveness of insoles in knee arthritis. This study aims to see whether 12 months of wearing insoles can lead to improvements in knee pain and function and slow disease progression in 200 people with knee arthritis. It will use state-of-the-art technology, magnetic resonance imaging, to measure changes in the amount of knee cartilage. This research is timely and the findings will be of major significance as there is increasing world-wide attention on slowing progression of knee arthritis. Insoles are one of the few non-drug therapies with the potential to influence both symptoms and disease progression. If the results show that insoles are beneficial, then this research will: 1. Better inform clinical guidelines to firmly recommend insoles to manage knee arthritis 2. Provide the basis for developing education strategies for health care practitioners and patients about the benefits of insoles 3. Provide the impetus to make insoles more readily available directly to patients 4. Ultimately lead to better patient outcomesRead moreRead less