The Effects of Open Chain Versus Closed Chain Strengthening on Dynamic Valgus During a Step Down Test

March 30, 2024 updated by: James O'Donohue, Alvernia University

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of different exercises programs in individuals with abnormal knee motion. The main question it aims to answer are:

  • In individuals with abnormal knee motion and without knee pain, does a weight-bearing exercise program reduce abnormal knee motion during a step-down test better than a non weight-bearing exercise program? Participants will
  • Perform a stepdown test while undergoing motion analysis and electromyograph (EMG) recording.
  • Participants will then be placed either into a weight-bearing or non weight-bearing exercise group. Exercises will be performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
  • Further motion analysis and EMG data will be collected to test for differences. Researchers will compare individual results before and after exercise, and between-group results before and after exercise to see if one exercise program helps improved abnormal knee motion more than the other.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The goals of this trial is to compare the effects of a closed kinetic chain exercise program to an open kinetic chain exercise program in individuals without knee pain who also have dynamic knee valgus during a step-down test.

Individuals will be screened for participation via visual observation. Those with an observable medial collapse of the knee joint will then receive motion capture testing of the step down test (three trials) with electromyography recording of the gluteus medius, quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups. Baseline maximum voluntary contraction of these muscles will be done with EMG analysis and force gauge measurements.

After initial data collection participants will be randomized into either a closed kinetic chain exercise group or open kinetic chain exercise group. (described in the Arms section) Participants will exercise 2-3 times per week for 6 weeks. After the exercise program is completed, participants will then be seen back for final data collection which will match the initial collection process.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

10

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, 19607
        • Recruiting
        • Alvernia University
        • 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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Dynamic knee valgus with observed step down test

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presently experiencing lower extremity pain
  • Lower extremity surgery within the past 1 year

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Closed-Chain exercise
4 exercises: 1)Single leg bridge, 2)side plank (with testing side down), 3) single leg squat, 4) banded squat Exercises to be performed with 3 sets of 10 repetitions each. Frequency will be 2 times per week for 6 weeks.
Other: Exercise
Description of exercises are noted in the arms/groups descriptions
Other Names:
  • Closed-chain exercise
  • Open-chain exercise
Active Comparator: Open-Chain exercise
4 exercises: 1) Side plank (with testing side up), 2) clamshells, 3) front plank with hip extension, 4)wall slide Exercises to be performed with 3 sets of 10 repetitions each. Frequency will be 2 times per week for 6 weeks.
Other: Exercise
Description of exercises are noted in the arms/groups descriptions
Other Names:
  • Closed-chain exercise
  • Open-chain exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Electromyographic activity of gluteus medius muscle during step-down test
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Muscle activity of gluteus medius during max contraction and during step-down test
6 weeks
Electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscle during step-down test
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Muscle activity of quadriceps muscle during max contraction and during step-down test
6 weeks
Electromyographic activity of hamstring muscles during step-down test
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Muscle activity of hamstring muscles during max contraction and during step-down test
6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Amount of dynamic knee valgus during step-down test measured with motion analysis
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Motion analysis of frontal plane knee motion during step-down test
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Alvernia University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: James M O'Donohue, DPT, Alvernia 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)

March 22, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 30, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 30, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 5, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 30, 2024

Last Verified

March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2123624-1/2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share data at this time

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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