Steps Towards Osteoarthritis Prevention: A Pilot Study
Optimal knee joint loading, which refers to the forces acting on the knee caused by daily activities such as daily steps, plays an essential role in maintaining knee articular cartilage health and reducing the risk of osteoarthritis (OA). After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), individuals take fewer daily steps as compared to uninjured controls resulting in insufficient knee joint loading to joint tissues, but it is unclear how changes in daily steps impact knee joint cartilage health in OA development. Therefore, the overall single arm, longitudinal pre-test post-test study objective is to determine the mechanistic links between knee joint loading as measured by daily steps and comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of knee joint cartilage health post-ACLR. The central hypothesis is that individuals post-ACLR who take low daily steps will demonstrate deconditioned, less resilient cartilage characterized by poor tibiofemoral cartilage composition and greater cartilage strain.
• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• For children, signed and dated informed assent by child and parental permission form by parent/guardian to participate in the study
• Underwent an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between 6-60 months prior to enrollment
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations and availability for the duration of the study
• Completed all other formal physical therapy and therapeutic exercise regimens, and will not be engaging in any other formal therapy for their ACLR during the study
• Physician clearance for unrestricted activity
• Owning a smartphone
• Demonstrate \< 7,000 steps per day during the screening phase of aim 2 as assessed using the Actigraph Link monitor