Aquatic Exercise in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

November 2, 2026 updated by: Mensure Aslan, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

The Effect of Aquatic Exercise on Central Sensitization and Functional Parameters in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of aquatic exercise on central sensitization in patients with knee osteoarthritis are not fully known in the studies conducted to date. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of aquatic exercise on central sensitization and functional parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

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.

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.
60

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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Merkez
      • Kırşehir, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye), 40000
        • Recruiting
        • Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Merkez 40100
        • Contact:

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

40 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adults aged 40-65
  2. Individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis
  3. Individuals with no cognitive impairments
  4. Volunteers for the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Individuals who have undergone knee surgery
  2. Individuals presenting with signs such as fracture, malignancy, or infection
  3. Pregnancy
  4. Individuals with cognitive impairments who are unable to express themselves.

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: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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.
Active Comparator: Standard physical group

Participants receive standard physical therapy sessions for knee osteoarthritis for 8 weeks, each session is 60minutes.
Other: Standard physical therapy

Standard physical conventional therapy exercises for knee osteoarthritis.
Experimental: Standard physical group and hydrotherapy

• Participants receive standard physical therapy sessions combined with hydrotherapy (pool therapy) sessions for knee osteoarthritis for 8 weeks, each session is 60 minutes.
Other: Standard physical therapy

Standard physical conventional therapy exercises for knee osteoarthritis.

Other: Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy (pool therapy) sessions tailored to standard physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis.

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
Central Sensitization
Time Frame: 8 weeks

The Central Sensitization Inventory is a valid tool for assessing psychological and sensory factors associated with central pain sensitivity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The Central Sensitization Inventory demonstrates moderate reliability in patients who have developed central sensitization due to knee osteoarthritis. Part A consists of 25 items that assess an individual's symptoms of central sensitization; it is scored using a 4-point Likert scale. Part B assesses whether the patient has received a diagnosis of another condition within the family of central sensitization syndromes from a physician. A high score indicates severe central sensitization.Number of Items: Section A of the scale, which is included in the assessment, consists of 25 items. Item Scoring: Each item uses a 5-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 0 to 4 points (0 = Never, 1 = Rarely, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Always). Minimum Score: 0; Maximum Score: 100
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Participants' pain intensity will be assessed. Pain intensity is indicated on a 10 cm straight line with anchor points representing "no pain" and "worst pain imaginable." The distance between the starting point and the point marked by the patient is measured in centimeters. An increase in this distance signifies an increase in pain intensity. This is an assessment method, ranging from 0 to 10 (or 0-100 mm), used to measure the severity of subjective symptoms-most commonly pain. A score of 0 indicates no pain; 1-3, mild pain; 4-6, moderate pain; 7-9, severe pain; and 10, unbearable, extreme pain.
8 weeks
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Knee-related quality of life scales for patients with knee osteoarthritis are tools used to assess pain, function, and activities of daily living. They comprise 42 items across five distinct subscales. A higher total score indicates extremely severe pain in the knee, restricted movement, and loss of function. Scores range from 0 points to 100 points.
8 weeks
Algometer
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Central sensitization is assessed by measuring the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT). Pressure will be applied to the quadriceps muscle using an algometer until the patient perceives pain. The procedure will be performed three times at 20-second intervals, and the average value will be calculated. Subsequently, the patient will immerse their foot and ankle in cold water (1-4°C) for 60-120 seconds. Following this, the PPT will be measured again at the same point on the quadriceps muscle using the algometer, and the total score will be calculated. A high score indicates that central sensitization is not present. An algometer is a physical device that provides objective measurements. Consequently, the results obtained from the device are not scores, but rather values expressed in units of applied pressure. A low score, on the other hand, shows that central sensitization is present.
8 weeks
SF-36 Quality of Life Scale (36-Item Short Form Health Survey)
Time Frame: 8 weeks

It measures an individual's quality of life. The questionnaire consists of 36 items and 8 sub-parameters (physical functioning, bodily pain, limitations due to physical problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perception). A high score on the SF-36 questionnaire indicates that the patient's health-related quality of life is very good. Based on the data obtained from the survey, scores ranging from 0 to 100 are calculated separately for 8 distinct sub-dimensions and for the 2 main components into which these dimensions are grouped.
8 weeks
Biodex Balance Scale
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Patients' static balance will be measured using the Biodex Balance System®. Patients will be asked to maintain a balanced standing position on the static platform. The anteroposterior index, mediolateral index, and overall index will be evaluated with eyes open and eyes closed. Each position will be tested three times, and the average value will be recorded. For dynamic balance, level two of the 8-level resistance scale (1 = least stable, 8 = most stable) will be used.
8 weeks
Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: 8 weeks

It is widely used to assess the severity of depression in patients. It is a questionnaire consisting of 21 items. The questionnaire has a total score ranging from 0 to 63 points. A high total score indicates a high level of depression severity.
8 weeks
Mini-Mental State Examination
Time Frame: 8 weeks

The Mini-Mental test, which measures cognitive functions quickly and in a standardized manner, will be administered in the clinical setting; memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills are assessed. The total score for the 11 items across these five domains ranges from 0 to 30. A high score in the assessment indicates normal mental functions, while a low score points to cognitive impairment or dementia.
8 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.
Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi

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.
June 1, 2026

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.
December 1, 2026

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.
February 1, 2027

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).
October 13, 2026

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.
October 13, 2026

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.
October 20, 2026

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.
November 4, 2026

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.
November 2, 2026

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.
October 1, 2026

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.
  • 2026/81

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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