Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Effect of Exercise on Muscle Activity, Strength, and Balance in People With Knee Osteoarthritis

Canada42 participantsStarted 2025-08-26

Plain-language summary

This will be a clinical trial of a standardized group exercise intervention, Les Mills Thrive, and determine if it alters muscle activation patterns and improves strength, balance, and symptoms in those with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Muscle activation patterns will be assessed using surface electromyography, strength will be assessed using isokinetic dynamometry, balance will be measured using the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB\&M), and symptoms and typical activity will be measured using two questionnaires: the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). These outcome measures will be measured at baseline and after a 12-week group exercise intervention (Les Mills Thrive) for 42 older adults with knee OA. Results of this study will be disseminated via a report to Les Mills International, in community presentations, at relevant academic (e.g. Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) annual conference) and industry (e.g. Medical Fitness Association annual meeting) conferences, in an academic journal publication (e.g. Arthritis Care \& Research), and through press releases or other media publications.

Who can participate

Age range

19 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have received a diagnosis of knee OA from a physician and/or meet the American College of Rheumatology Clinical Classification Criteria for Osteoarthritis of the knee. The American College of Rheumatology criteria specify that a participant needs to have pain and fulfill three of the following six items: 1) aged 50 years or older, 2) no early morning stiffness or morning stiffness less than 30 minutes, 3) crepitus, 4) bony tenderness, 5) bony enlargement, 6) no palpable warmth * They must pass the Get Active Questionnaire to ensure that they are safe to begin an exercise program (determined via recruitment email). Exclusion Criteria: * i) severe knee trauma, knee surgery, or intraarticular knee joint injections in the previous six months, ii) active synovitis, iii) concurrent neurological (i.e. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, or polyneuropathy), endocrine (i.e., diabetes mellitus) and/or vestibular disorders which may affect balance, iv) chronic disease that may put them at risk during the exercise classes (i.e., history of heart failure, stroke, chronic obstructive lung disease), v) uncorrected visual impairment which may affect balance, or vi) an inflammatory rheumatic disease (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic reactive arthritis).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Quadriceps amplitude (Quadriceps PC1)

Timeframe: From initial data collection to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Quadriceps co-activation ( Quadriceps PC2)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.

Hamstrings amplitude (Hamstrings PC1)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.

Hamstrings co-activation (Hamstrings PC2)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07073911

SponsorGillian Hatfield

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-19

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Osteo Arthritis Knee and Hip trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

19 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Quadriceps amplitude (Quadriceps PC1)

Timeframe: From initial data collection to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Quadriceps co-activation ( Quadriceps PC2)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.

Hamstrings amplitude (Hamstrings PC1)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.

Hamstrings co-activation (Hamstrings PC2)

Timeframe: From baseline data collection to the end of the intervention at 12 weeks.