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. 2017 Jun 26;5(6):e86.
doi: 10.2196/mhealth.7863.

A Community-Based Physical Activity Counselling Program for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Track-OA Study

Linda C Li  1   2 , Eric C Sayre  2 , Hui Xie  3 , Cam Clayton  2 , Lynne M Feehan  1   4
Affiliations

A Community-Based Physical Activity Counselling Program for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Track-OA Study

Linda C Li et al. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. .

Abstract

Background: Physical activity can improve health outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA); however, participation in physical activity is very low in this population.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the use of wearables (Fitbit Flex) and telephone counselling by a physical therapist (PT) for improving physical activity in people with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of knee OA, or who have passed 2 validated criteria for early OA.

Methods: We conducted a community-based feasibility randomized controlled trial. The immediate group (n=17) received a brief education session by a physical therapist, a Fitbit Flex activity tracker, and a weekly telephone call for activity counselling with the physical therapist. The delayed group (n=17) received the same intervention 1 month later. All participants were assessed at baseline (T0), and the end of 1 month (T1) and 2 months (T2). Outcomes were (1) mean moderate to vigorous physical activity time, (2) mean time spent on sedentary behavior, (3) Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and (4) Partners in Health Scale. Feasibility data were summarized with descriptive statistics. We used analysis of covariance to evaluate the effect of the group type on the outcome measures at T1 and T2, after adjusting for blocking and T0. We assessed planned contrasts of changes in outcome measures over measurement periods.

Results: We identified 46 eligible individuals; of those, 34 (74%) enrolled and no one dropped out. All but 1 participant adhered to the intervention protocol. We found a significant effect, with the immediate intervention group having improved in the moderate to vigorous physical activity time and in the Partners in Health Scale at T0 to T1 compared with the delayed intervention group. The planned contrast of the immediate intervention group at T0 to T1 versus the delayed group at T1 to T2 showed a significant effect in the sedentary time and the KOOS symptoms subscale, favoring the delayed group.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of a behavioral intervention, supported by the use of a wearable device, to promote physical activity among people with knee OA.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02313506; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02313506 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6r4P3Bub0).

Keywords: digital technology; exercise; fitness trackers; osteoarthritis; physical activity; sedentary behavior; sedentary lifestyle; wearables.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) flowchart. IQR: interquartile range.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Results of outcome measures. (A) Bouted moderate to vigorous physical activity (≥3 metabolic equivalent tasks [METs]). (B) Bouted moderate to vigorous physical activity (≥4 METs). (C) Bouted sedentary time. (D) Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) symptoms subscale. (E) KOOS pain subscale. (F) KOOS activities of daily living subscale. (G) KOOS sports and recreation subscale. (H) KOOS quality of life subscale. (I) Partners in Health Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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