Tato stránka byla automaticky přeložena a přesnost překladu není zaručena. Podívejte se prosím na anglická verze pro zdrojový text.

Effects of Two Bar Knee Off-Load Brace With Non Weight Bearing Strength Training Among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

24. dubna 2026 aktualizováno: Dr. Muhammad Tariq Rafiq, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Effects of Two Bar Knee Off-Load Brace With Non Weight Bearing Strength Training on Pain, Stiffness, and Satisfaction Among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study is a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 18 participants with knee osteoarthritis. The trial will compare a program of two-bar knee off-load brace combined with non-weight bearing strength training with a program of standard knee off-loader brace combined with non-weight bearing strength training. Interventions will be delivered three times per week for six weeks. The primary outcomes are pain, stiffness, and patient satisfaction. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after six weeks. The trial will be carried out at Water and Power Development Authority Hospital Complex and Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. The hypothesis is that the two-bar knee off-load brace combined with non-weight bearing strength training will result in greater reductions in pain and stiffness as well as improved patient satisfaction compared with the standard knee off-loader brace with non-weight bearing strength training.

Přehled studie

Postavení

Zatím nenabíráme

Podmínky

Intervence / Léčba

Detailní popis

Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive musculoskeletal condition characterized by joint degeneration, pain, stiffness, and reduced functional mobility. Conservative management strategies such as therapeutic exercise and knee bracing are commonly recommended to reduce symptoms and improve functional outcomes. Knee off-loader braces are designed to reduce joint loading by redistributing forces across the knee joint during weight-bearing activities. Recently, interest has increased in braces that provide external axial unloading through structural support, potentially reducing compressive forces on the tibio-femoral joint more effectively than traditional braces.

Non-weight bearing strength training is frequently used in rehabilitation programs for knee osteoarthritis because it strengthens periarticular muscles while minimizing joint loading during exercise. Combining mechanical unloading through bracing with structured non-weight bearing strengthening may provide a complementary therapeutic effect by simultaneously reducing mechanical stress on the knee joint and improving muscular support and joint stability.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a two-bar knee off-load brace combined with non-weight bearing strength training compared with a standard knee off-loader brace combined with the same strengthening program. The trial will use a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled design with a total of 18 participants diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups.

The two bar knee offload brace group will receive a two-bar knee off-loader brace designed with medial and lateral rigid support bars extending from the thigh to the ground, allowing partial axial load transfer while maintaining physiological knee motion. Participants will also perform a structured non-weight bearing strength training program targeting hip, knee, and ankle musculature.

The standard brace group will receive a standard knee off-loader brace that redistributes knee joint forces without external axial load support, along with the same non-weight bearing strength training protocol. Both interventions will be administered three times per week for six weeks, with each treatment session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes.

The study aims to determine whether the addition of enhanced axial unloading through the two-bar knee off-loader brace leads to greater improvements in pain, stiffness, and patient satisfaction compared with the standard brace. Outcome measures will include the Numeric Pain Rating Scale for pain intensity, the stiffness subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and the satisfaction section of the Knee Society Score. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after completion of the six-week intervention period.

The current study will be conducted at the physiotherapy departments of Water and Power Development Authority Hospital Complex and Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. Standardized procedures will be followed to ensure consistent delivery of interventions and accurate outcome assessment across all participants.

Typ studie

Intervenční

Zápis (Odhadovaný)

18

Fáze

  • Nelze použít

Kontakty a umístění

Tato část poskytuje kontaktní údaje pro ty, kteří studii provádějí, a informace o tom, kde se tato studie provádí.

Studijní kontakt

Kritéria účasti

Výzkumníci hledají lidi, kteří odpovídají určitému popisu, kterému se říká kritéria způsobilosti. Některé příklady těchto kritérií jsou celkový zdravotní stav osoby nebo předchozí léčba.

Kritéria způsobilosti

Věk způsobilý ke studiu

  • Dospělý

Přijímá zdravé dobrovolníky

Ne

Popis

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 45-60 years
  • Have a confirmed diagnosis of KOA of grade II to III according to Kellgren and Lawrence classification
  • Participants must have had no changes in pharmacological treatment and not received any intra-articular knee injection (glucocorticosteroids with analgesics) during the last three months
  • Patient must be able to understand instructions and complete self-reported questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants will be excluded if they have severe venous insufficiency
  • Acute inflammatory knee conditions (septic arthritis, gout, pseudogout)
  • Systemic disease (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia)
  • Traumatic onset of knee pain
  • Individuals with a major lower-limb injury requiring surgery or physiotherapy within the past year

Studijní plán

Tato část poskytuje podrobnosti o studijním plánu, včetně toho, jak je studie navržena a co studie měří.

Jak je studie koncipována?

Detaily designu

  • Primární účel: Léčba
  • Přidělení: Randomizované
  • Intervenční model: Paralelní přiřazení
  • Maskování: Dvojnásobek

Zbraně a zásahy

Skupina účastníků / Arm
Intervence / Léčba
Experimentální: Two-Bar Knee Off-Load Brace Group
The two-bar knee off-load brace is designed with medial and lateral rigid support bars that partially bear axial load and reduce compressive forces on the knee joint during weight-bearing activities. Participants will also perform a structured non-weight bearing strengthening program targeting the hip, knee, and ankle muscles.

Participants will be instructed to wear the two-bar knee off-loader brace during waking hours. Participants will be advised not to wear the brace during sleep, bathing, or personal hygiene activities, and to remove it during prolonged periods of sitting or lying down. Daily skin inspection will be recommended to monitor for discomfort or irritation.

The Non-Weight Bearing Strength Training is a structured program of strengthening and stretching exercises for the lower extremities. The strength training will be administered three times per week throughout the six-week intervention period. Each treatment session will begin with 10 minutes warm-up, followed by resistance training, and ending with 10 minutes cool-down. The overall session duration is expected to range between 45 and 60 minutes. Rest intervals of 20-30 seconds will be provided between sets, with a 1-minute rest period before transitioning to the next exercise.

Aktivní komparátor: Standard Knee Off-Loader Brace Group
The standard brace redistributes joint forces within the knee joint but does not provide external axial load support. Participants will perform the same non-weight bearing strengthening exercises as the experimental group.
Participants in the control group will receive the same non-weight bearing strength training program along with the use of a standard knee off-loader brace. The strengthening program will target hip, knee, and ankle muscles and will be performed in non-weight bearing positions to minimize joint stress while improving muscular strength and joint stability.

Co je měření studie?

Primární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Knee Pain
Časové okno: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The NPRS is a widely used, validated self-reported scale that assesses the intensity of pain on an 11-point numerical scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain. Participants will be asked to rate their average knee pain based on their experience. The NPRS is simple to administer and has demonstrated excellent reliability and validity in musculoskeletal conditions. Pain levels will be categorized as mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10). Changes in NPRS scores from baseline to the end of the intervention will be used to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Sekundární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Stiffness
Časové okno: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Stiffness will be assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) stiffness subscale. The WOMAC is a disease-specific questionnaire developed for individuals with osteoarthritis. The stiffness subscale consists of two items that assess the severity of knee stiffness after first waking in the morning and later in the day. Each item is scored on a Likert scale, producing a total stiffness score ranging from 0 to 8, where higher scores indicate greater stiffness severity. The WOMAC has demonstrated good reliability and validity for assessing symptoms and functional limitations in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Patient Satisfaction
Časové okno: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Patient satisfaction will be measured using the Satisfaction Section of the Knee Society Score (KSS). This section consists of five items evaluating the patient's satisfaction with knee function and treatment outcomes. Each item is scored from 0 to 8, giving a total score ranging from 0 to 40, where higher scores indicate greater satisfaction. The Knee Society Score is a validated tool widely used in clinical research for evaluating patient-reported outcomes related to knee conditions.
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks

Spolupracovníci a vyšetřovatelé

Zde najdete lidi a organizace zapojené do této studie.

Sponzor

Vyšetřovatelé

  • Vrchní vyšetřovatel: Muhammad Tariq Rafiq, PhD, Lahore University of Biological & Applied Sciences

Termíny studijních záznamů

Tato data sledují průběh záznamů studie a předkládání souhrnných výsledků na ClinicalTrials.gov. Záznamy ze studií a hlášené výsledky jsou před zveřejněním na veřejné webové stránce přezkoumány Národní lékařskou knihovnou (NLM), aby se ujistily, že splňují specifické standardy kontroly kvality.

Hlavní termíny studia

Začátek studia (Odhadovaný)

1. května 2026

Primární dokončení (Odhadovaný)

1. srpna 2026

Dokončení studie (Odhadovaný)

1. září 2026

Termíny zápisu do studia

První předloženo

24. dubna 2026

První předloženo, které splnilo kritéria kontroly kvality

24. dubna 2026

První zveřejněno (Aktuální)

1. května 2026

Aktualizace studijních záznamů

Poslední zveřejněná aktualizace (Aktuální)

1. května 2026

Odeslaná poslední aktualizace, která splnila kritéria kontroly kvality

24. dubna 2026

Naposledy ověřeno

1. dubna 2026

Více informací

Termíny související s touto studií

Další identifikační čísla studie

  • DGRC/MSPT/26/728

Plán pro data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)

Plánujete sdílet data jednotlivých účastníků (IPD)?

ANO

Popis plánu IPD

Only IPD used in the results publication will be shared.

Časový rámec sdílení IPD

It will be available after the completion of the study.

Kritéria přístupu pro sdílení IPD

Through the corresponding author.

Typ podpůrných informací pro sdílení IPD

  • PROTOKOL STUDY
  • MÍZA
  • ICF
  • CSR

Informace o lécích a zařízeních, studijní dokumenty

Studuje lékový produkt regulovaný americkým FDA

Ne

Studuje produkt zařízení regulovaný americkým úřadem FDA

Ne

Tyto informace byly beze změn načteny přímo z webu clinicaltrials.gov. Máte-li jakékoli požadavky na změnu, odstranění nebo aktualizaci podrobností studie, kontaktujte prosím register@clinicaltrials.gov. Jakmile bude změna implementována na clinicaltrials.gov, bude automaticky aktualizována i na našem webu .