A Comparison Between GLA:D Canada and an Individualized JointEffort Exercise Program in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects more than 4.4 million people in Canada (13% of Canadians). OA symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, range of motion loss, and inflammation, resulting in a significant decrease in quality of life. Current evidence-based guidelines for OA management recommend weight loss, patient education, exercise therapy, bracing, viscosupplementation, and anti-inflammatory/pain medications prior to joint replacement surgery. Unfortunately, current practice trends are not consistent with these guidelines and focus largely on joint replacement. Recently, research from a group in Denmark has shown a reduction in the progression of knee OA symptoms, joint related painkiller use, individuals on sick leave, and higher physical activity levels 12 months after a combined patient education and standardized group exercise therapy program (GLA:D®). Based on the Danish success, the GLA:D® program has been made available in Canada. To date it is unclear if the GLA:DTM Canada program will result in outcomes similar to those seen in Denmark, or how the GLA:DTM program compares to existing individualized OA care programs (i.e. JointEffort). This research will answer the following three questions;

1. Is the GLA:DTM standardized education and exercise program associated with improvements in functional mobility, quality of life, pain management, and inflammatory biomarkers in knee OA patients in Calgary, Alberta?
2. Is the JointEffort individualized exercise and education program associated with improved functional mobility, quality of life, pain management, and inflammatory biomarkers in knee OA patients in Calgary, Alberta?
3. Do the improvements in functional mobility, quality of life, pain management, and inflammatory biomarkers in knee OA patients differ between those enrolled in the GLA:DTM and the JointEffort education and exercise programs?

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis, Knee

Interventions

OTHER

GLA:D Canada Program

The GLA:D® program consists of 1) pre- and post-program outcome measurement (self-reported and functional outcomes); 2) 2, 1-1.5 hour education sessions including information on OA disease characteristics, treatments and self-help strategies; and 3) a neuromuscular exercise (warm-up, circuit training, and cool down) training program administered in 1 hour, small (up to 10 persons) group-based, supervised sessions twice weekly for 6 weeks. The goal of the exercises is to restore neutral, functional alignment of the legs by building compensatory functional stability and improving sensorimotor control.

OTHER

JointEffort Program

The JointEffort program consists of: 1) one appointment aimed at individualized program design (1-1.5 hours); 2) a nutritional seminar taught by a registered dietician explaining dietary recommendations for OA patients and inflammatory conditions, including weight loss and/or management (1 hours); and 3) an individualized exercise (strength and neuromuscular training, balance training, and range of motion exercises) training program administered in 1 hour, small (up to 10 persons) group-based, supervised sessions twice weekly for 6 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Alberta

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jackie L Whittaker, PT, PhD · Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Max Age

100 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-05-01

Primary Completion

2020-03-15

Completion

2020-03-15

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations