Effects of Feldenkrais Exercises in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

March 10, 2025 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Feldenkrais Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Disability in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

The primary objective of the study is to determine the effects of Feldenkrais Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Disability in Patients with Knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis poses significant challenges in pain management, mobility improvement, and disability reduction among middle-aged to older adults. Feldenkrais Method offers benefits comparable to back school lessons or core stability exercises. This study, conducted as a Randomized Controlled Trial at RIPHAH Rehabilitation Clinic, aims to assess the efficacy of Feldenkrais exercises compared to conventional physical therapy in addressing pain, range of motion, and disability in knee osteoarthritis patients aged 40-60 years. A non-probability convenience sampling method will recruit 32 participants meeting specific criteria for osteoarthritis severity and functional ability. Participants will be randomly assigned to Group A (Feldenkrais exercises) or Group B (conventional therapy), with interventions delivered over four weeks. Group A will engage in Feldenkrais exercises targeting pelvic and lower limb mobility, while Group B will receive standard treatments including knee isometrics, mobilization, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, and heating pad applications. Pain severity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Range of Motion assessed via goniometry, and disability evaluated using the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Statistical analysis using SPSS will compare outcomes between groups at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up assessments.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent rheumatic diseases in the elderly, being a frequent cause of incapacity among this population. It is more common in the knee and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and function loss. OA is a major public health problem. The prevalence of knee OA is 34-45% in the Indian population with clinical symptoms of pain, reduced muscle strength, and knee function. That is the most common form of degenerative joint disease affecting 15 to 40% of people aged 40 and above. One hundred fifty-one million people worldwide experienced OA, and it was ranked sixth as a leading cause of moderate and severe disability. The knee is the joint most frequently affected by osteoarthritis. The Feldenkrais Method has the potential to help older people with OA. Developed by Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, the method is a gentle form of exercise which has been shown to be acceptable for older people who have limited movement. The Feldenkrais Method is taught in two parallel forms, Awareness Through Movement (conducted as a group exercise) and Functional Integration (one-on one approach). This study explores the effectiveness of Awareness Through Movement lessons in helping older people with OA. The method aims for improved functioning, where the entire body cooperates efficiently with minimal effort. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of Feldenkrais exercises as an alternative, non-invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Medical conventional treatments for knee OA, such as pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions, often come with limitations including potential side effects, high costs, and sometimes limited long-term effectiveness. These constraints necessitate the exploration of alternative, non-invasive treatment options that can be both effective and accessible. Feldenkrais exercises focus on improving movement patterns and body awareness, which may help reduce pain, enhance range of motion, and decrease disability.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
32

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
      • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
        • Recruiting
        • RIPHAH Rehabilitation Clinic, Punjab, Pakistan
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • saliha Farooq, MS*

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 40 to 60 years of patients.
  • Both female and male
  • Able to walk for 6 minutes (Timed up-and-go test)
  • Able to rise from floor
  • Grade 2 and 3 of osteoarthritis diagnosed with radiograph (Kellgren and Lawrence classification system)
  • Pain reported on VAS score ˃6/10 in knee region for more than 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Tuberculosis, carcinoma, heart disease, and osteoporosis

    • Any trauma or localized infection in the knee joint
    • Hyper flexibility
    • Open sores
    • Ongoing radiotherapy, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, or anticoagulants
    • Psychiatric diseases such as phobia/obsession and depression
    • Allergy to hot pack
    • Patients with a history of surgery in the knee region within a year.
    • Severe cognitive impairments
    • Contraindications to physical activity
    • Concurrent participation in other physical therapy programs

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group-A (Feldenkrais exercises)
This group of participants will engage in Feldenkrais exercises focused on pain, improved mobility, and disability. Each session will last 30 minutes, conducted twice a week for 4 weeks. The exercises include Pelvic Clock Exercise, Knee Rolling, Ankle Circles, Knee Flexion and Extension and Leg Slides.
Other: Feldenkrais exercises
Feldenkrais exercises focused on pain, improving mobility, and disability.
Active Comparator: Group-B (Standard Physicaltherapy interventions)

Participants will receive standard physical therapy interventions for knee osteoarthritis.

Protocol:

  • Knee Isometrics: Isometric exercises targeting the quadriceps and hamstrings, performed for 10 minutes, twice a week.
  • Knee Mobilization
  • Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
  • Heating Pad Duration: 30-minute sessions, conducted twice a week for 4 weeks.
Other: Standard physical therapy interventions
  • Knee Isometrics: Isometric exercises targeting the quadriceps and hamstrings, performed for 10 minutes, twice a week.
  • Knee Mobilization
  • Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
  • Heating Pad Duration: 30-minute sessions, conducted twice a week for 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
The NPRS is a segmented numeric scale in which the respondent selects a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of his/her pain. The common format is a horizontal bar or line. NPRS is anchored by terms describing pain severity extremes.
upto 4 weeks
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC)
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
WOMAC is a disease-specific measure of health status (pain, stiffness, and function) in OA sufferers. It is widely used for evaluating hip and knee osteoarthritis. It is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 24 items divided into 3 subscales
upto 4 weeks
Universal Goniometer (UG)
Time Frame: upto 4 weeks
A universal goniometer is a crucial tool in orthopedics used to precisely measure joint angles. It exists in two primary forms: the short-arm version is ideal for smaller joints such as the wrist, elbow, or ankle, while the long-arm version is more accurate for joints with longer levers like the knee and hip. It highlighting its role in quantifying joint mobility and aiding in treatment planning and assessment in medical practice.
upto 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ghulam Fatima, PHD*, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 2, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 2, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 10, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 10, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 10, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • REC/RCR & AHS/24/0150

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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