Overview:
Physical activity has been widely recognized as an important treatment approach for knee osteoarthritis (OA); however, little is known about the effects of running with this condition. Previous studies have suggested healthy knee cartilage has the ability to become stronger immediately after running in the short-term, but it remains unclear if unhealthy knee cartilage would react the same. This is particularly important for people who wish to start running as a recreational activity, as current clinical guidelines are unable to provide any definitive direction as to whether taking up running in later life is appropriate.
Objectives:
To investigate the effects of running on individuals with knee osteoarthritis who are new to running, including response of cartilage immediately following a run, as well as following a 6-month program gradually increasing running volume.
Who can participate?
We are currently recruiting men and women aged 35 years and older with or without knee OA who have been running consistently for no more than 6 months at the time of enrolment, with a total weekly volume of less than 5 km, or who have yet to take up recreational running consistently. You must be comfortable running and walking on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes. You may be included in the group of runners with knee OA if you have experienced frequent knee pain over the past 3 months and show evidence of knee OA on x-ray. You may be included in the group of runners without knee OA if you have had pain-free knees for at least the past 3 months and if you have no evidence of knee OA on x-ray. If you do not have recent x-ray images of your knees, they will be obtained to determine your study eligibility.
What is required?
To determine study eligibility, you will be required to attend a 3-hour muscle strength evaluation, running assessment, and an x-ray screening for knee OA (if you don’t already have your own recent knee x-rays). Once your study eligibility is confirmed, the study will consist of a 6-month running program that is focused on gradually increasing your weekly running amounts. Before and after this 6-month program, you will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of your knee before and after running on a treadmill. You will also undergo a second running assessment towards the end of your 6-month running program.
To register your interest in our study:
Please complete the eligibility form by clicking here.