Movement Retraining for Osteoarthritis

This trial tests a new method to help individuals with knee osteoarthritis reduce knee stress by altering calf muscle use during walking. Participants receive feedback while walking to adjust muscle movements, a process known as gait retraining. Researchers aim to determine if these changes can lower knee strain. This trial is open to those who have had knee osteoarthritis for at least six months, can walk unaided for an hour, and typically experience mild pain (4 or less on a scale of 0 to 10). As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance knee health for many.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Research shows that changing walking patterns can safely help people with knee osteoarthritis. One study found that participants who adjusted their walking style experienced a 4% decrease in knee stress. This suggests that altering walking habits might reduce knee pain and slow joint damage. Another study found that customizing walking style can relieve pain as effectively as medication, without the use of drugs.

Unlike traditional treatments for osteoarthritis, which often involve medications like NSAIDs or invasive procedures such as joint injections and surgery, gait retraining focuses on altering the way a person walks. This method is unique because it uses real-time haptic biofeedback to help participants change their muscle coordination, specifically targeting the gastrocnemius muscle. Researchers are excited about this approach because it offers a non-invasive, drug-free option that aims to address the root cause of pain and improve mobility by retraining movement patterns, potentially reducing the need for medications and their associated side effects.

Research shows that altering walking patterns can benefit people with knee osteoarthritis. In this trial, participants will undergo gait modification, learning to change muscle coordination while walking through real-time haptic biofeedback. Studies have found that personalizing walking styles can slow cartilage damage and relieve pain, similar to medications. One study discovered that even small changes in walking reduced knee stress by 4%. Another study showed that altering walking techniques could reduce knee pain by 35%. These findings suggest that learning new walking methods through feedback can help lower knee stress and pain for those with osteoarthritis.²³⁴⁵⁶