Effectiveness of Internet-Based Exercises Aimed at Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: The iBEAT-OA Randomized Clinical Trial

Sameer Akram Gohir, Frida Eek, Anthony Kelly, Abhishek Abhishek, Ana M Valdes, Sameer Akram Gohir, Frida Eek, Anthony Kelly, Abhishek Abhishek, Ana M Valdes

Abstract

Importance: Osteoarthritis is a prevalent, debilitating, and costly chronic disease for which recommended first-line treatment is underused.

Objective: To compare the effect of an internet-based treatment for knee osteoarthritis vs routine self-management (ie, usual care).

Design, setting, and participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 2018 to March 2020. Participants included individuals aged 45 years or older with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis recruited from an existing primary care database or from social media advertisements were invited. Data were analyzed April to July 2020.

Interventions: The intervention and control group conformed to first-line knee osteoarthritis treatment. For the intervention group, treatment was delivered via a smartphone application. The control group received routine self-management care.

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was change from baseline to 6 weeks in self-reported pain during the last 7 days, reported on a numerical rating scale (NRS; range, 0-10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10, worst pain imaginable), compared between groups. Secondary outcomes included 2 physical functioning scores, hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and quantitative sensory testing.

Results: Among a total of 551 participants screened for eligibility, 146 were randomized and 105 were analyzed (mean [SD] age, 66.7 [9.2] years, 71 [67.1%] women), including 48 participants in the intervention group and 57 participants in the control group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. At the 6-week follow-up, the intervention group showed a greater NRS pain score reduction than the control group (between-group difference, -1.5 [95% CI, -2.2 to -0.8]; P < .001). Similarly, the intervention group had better improvements in the 30-second sit-to-stand test (between-group difference, 3.4 [95% CI, 2.2 to 4.5]; P < .001) and Timed Up-and-Go test (between-group difference, -1.8 [95% CI, -3.0 to -0.5] seconds; P = .007), as well as the WOMAC subscales for pain (between-group difference, -1.1 [95% CI, -2.0 to -0.2]; P = .02), stiffness (between-group difference, -1.0 [95% CI, -1.5 to -0.5]; P < .001), and physical function (between-group difference, -3.4 [95% CI, -6.2 to -0.7]; P = .02). The magnitude of within-group changes in pain (d = 0.83) and function outcomes (30 second sit-to-stand test d = 1.24; Timed Up-and-Go test d = 0.76) in the intervention group corresponded to medium to very strong effects. No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions and relevance: These findings suggest that this internet-delivered, evidence-based, first-line osteoarthritis treatment was superior to routine self-managed usual care and could be provided without harm to people with osteoarthritis. Effect sizes observed in the intervention group corresponded to clinically important improvements.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03545048.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Abhishek reported receiving personal fees from Up-to-Date, Springer, NGM Biopharmaceuticals, and Inflazome outside the submitted work. Dr Valdes reported receiving grants from Pfizer during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.. Flowchart of Participants
Figure 1.. Flowchart of Participants
BMI indicates body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
Figure 2.. Change in Numerical Rating Scale…
Figure 2.. Change in Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores From Baseline to 6 Weeks
Figure 3.. Change in 30-Second Chair Sit-to-Stand…
Figure 3.. Change in 30-Second Chair Sit-to-Stand and Timed Up-and-Go Scores From Baseline to 6 Weeks

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