Knowledge Translation and Exercise for Degenerative Meniscal Tears and Early Osteoarthritis: KNEE-DEeP Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK · Aug 27, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The KNEE-DEeP Study is a clinical trial aimed at improving care for people experiencing knee pain caused by degenerative meniscal tears (DMT) or early osteoarthritis (OA). This study is designed to test a new approach that focuses on educating doctors and physiotherapists about the best ways to help their patients manage knee pain through exercise and self-care strategies, rather than surgery. The trial will involve 15 general practitioners (GPs), 5 physiotherapists, and 36 patients who have been assessed by their GP and found to have non-traumatic knee pain related to DMT or early OA.

To participate in the study, patients should be between 35 and 69 years old and must have visited their GP for knee pain that is not due to a recent injury. Participants will receive specialized consultations and physiotherapy sessions aimed at teaching them how to manage their condition effectively. Throughout the study, participants will be followed up after 12 weeks and again at six months to see how they are doing. This trial is currently recruiting participants and aims to gather valuable information to prepare for a larger study in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for Participants with Knee Pain:
• • Attended their GP with an episode of non-traumatic knee pain
• • Have knee pain attributed to a DMT or early degenerative changes based on the GP's clinical assessment (this standardised assessment is a component of the GP training)
• • Aged between 35 and 69 years inclusive
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Recent trauma likely to be associated with considerable tissue damage
• • Fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology clinical classification criteria for knee OA (these criteria reflect later signs of OA or established disease)
• • Moderate or advanced knee OA on x-ray (or Kellgren-Lawrence x-ray score ≥ Grade 3)
• • Having an acutely swollen or locked knee, or suspected ligament injury on physical exam
• • Inflammatory arthritis
• • Surgery or significant trauma of the index knee within the previous 2 years
• • Pregnancy
• • Unable to communicate in English
• • Preference for accessing physiotherapy treatment privately prior to the 'best practice' session.
• Inclusion Criteria for Participating GPs (n=15) and Physiotherapists (n=5):
• • Eligible GPs will be working in practices within traveling distance (\< 50 km) of University Hospital Kerry and willing to attend a two-hour training workshop
• • Eligible physiotherapists will be involved in the delivery of outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy services at University Hospital Kerry and available to participate in training to deliver the 'best practice' physiotherapy intervention