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Robot-Aided Off-Axis Neuromuscular Training for Knee OA

NCT07014098 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 36

Last updated 2026-04-21

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Although the primary knee motion occurs in flexion/extension, the frontal and transverse (off-axis) knee motions are smaller but crucial for maintaining joint stability and normal knee loading. Altered kinematics and neuromuscular control in off-axis knee motions have been reported in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), which are associated with excessive knee loading and the progression of knee OA. However, traditional rehabilitative treatments for people with knee OA and existing exercise equipment often focus on sagittal plane movement. Probably due to the technical limitations, there is a lack of convenient and effective equipment/method to train patients with knee OA in off-axis (frontal and transverse) planes.

The purpose of this study is to use a robot-aided elliptical training device to measure knee neuromechanical properties and to improve neuromuscular control in off-axis knee motions, aiming for joint de-loading and pain reduction for individuals with knee OA.

Conditions

  • Osteoarthritis of Knee

Interventions

DEVICE

Robot-Aided Off-Axis Neuromuscular Training

A novel custom-designed elliptical trainer is developed, and its footplates are robot-controlled to be moved in four off-axis directions (sliding in/out, pivoting in/out; corresponding to knee valgus/varus, internal rotation/external rotation). Before the training, off-axis neuromechanical assessments will be conducted to determine which specific off-axis direction (valgus, varus, internal rotation, external rotation, or combination of the off-axis directions) has neuromechanical deficits. During the evaluation-based and subject-specific neuromuscular training, the different training modes will be conducted progressively from regular stepping, footplate position control, spring mode, perturbation, to slippery mode.

DEVICE

Traditional elliptical regular stepping

traditional elliptical regular stepping

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Li-Qun Zhang, PhD · University of Maryland, Baltimore

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
45 Years
Max Age
85 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-01
Primary Completion
2029-06-01
Completion
2030-01-31

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07014098 on ClinicalTrials.gov