Cartilage Response to Exercise (CARE) Research Study

STUDY BASICS

Do you have knee osteoarthritis? You may be eligible for a research study testing the feasibility of administering two different interventions in people with knee osteoarthritis. One of the interventions will be exercise programs administered as usual, while the other intervention will be the same exercise program administered with interval or resting periods. Compensation is provided

STUDY PURPOSE

This study is testing the feasibility of administering two exercise interventions in people with knee osteoarthritis. The main question is whether exercising with resting intervals provides benefits to knee cartilage health.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Have a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
• Be between 45 and 79 years old
• Be able to walk for 45 minutes without resting, even if very slow  

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Before and after the exercise program, you will undergo:

• A series of physical tests and questionnaires.
• Collection of a small amount of blood from your arm and joint fluid from your knee.
• MRI of your knee.
• Analysis of your leg movement

You will be randomly assigned (placed into a group by chance) to an exercise program administered as usual or the same exercise program administered with interval periods. Both interventions are supervised by experienced physical therapists. More details:

• The program includes progressive exercise sessions 2-3 times a week for up to 4 months at the Physical Therapy - Clinical Translational Research Center (PT-CTRC).
• MRI and movement analysis will take place at the Carnegie Mellon University campus.