Cross-Education From Unilateral Strength and Balance Training in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Basic parameters: 60 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Croatia
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Cross-Education of Combined Unilateral Strength and Balance Training on Motor Function in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Overview
Kinesitherapy is one of the main tools in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis, but is often limited due to pain, reduced functionality, and fear of falling in older adults. This study will, through three sub-studies, examine the effects of unilateral training programs on strength, movement control, balance, and pain in the contralateral leg, as well as on functionality, fall risk, and kinesiophobia in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis through three sub-studies. A total of 45 participants (aged 60-80 years) with bilateral knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. combined unilateral strength and balance training; 2. unilateral balance training; 3. unilateral strength training. Strength will be measured with maximal voluntary contraction, balance using a single leg stance test on an unstable surface, movement control with an active joint position reproduction test, and functionality using the six-minute walk test and the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire. Pain will be assessed with the Visual Analog Scale and the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire, fall risk with the Timed Up and Go test and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International questionnaire, and kinesiophobia using the TAMPA questionnaire. This study will expand knowledge on cross-transfer and its effects on symptoms in the rehabilitation of older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. This research is a part of a doctoral thesis conducted under the supervision of assoc. prof. Tatjana Trošt, PhD.
Interventions
- Other 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Participants perform unilateral exercises with the less affected leg, combining strength and balance training. Each session lasts 50 minutes, including warm-up, main exercises (15-20 min), and relaxation. The program consists of 24 sessions over 8 weeks. - Other 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Participants perform unilateral balance exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main balance exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions. - Other 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Participants perform unilateral strength exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main strength exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions.
Primary outcome measures
- Change from baseline in balance performance in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis after 8 weeks of unilateral strength and/or balance training across all three intervention groups [Time frame: From baseline (pre-intervention) to the end of the 8-week training program]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- age 60-80 years,
- bilateral knee osteoarthritis of grade II-III according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification
Exclusion criteria
- acute lower extremity injuries in the past year,
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the past month,
- involvement in physical therapy within the past 6 months,
- undergoing intra-articular injections and/or knee surgery within the past year,
- rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes, other systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and severe cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic comorbidities
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Croatia · 1 center
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology — Zagreb
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07490977 · 13/2025