SuPRA: A Physical Activity Intervention
* Recruitment for this study is now closed.
Scientific Study Title:
Supporting Physical activity & Reducing sedentary behaviour in Arthritis (SuPRA)
Study Start Date:
January 2017
Study End Date:
Recruitment Completed in 2019
Why Did We Do This Research?
There is overwhelming evidence that being physically active improves people’s health and quality of life. Despite this, over 50% of people with arthritis are not physically active enough, even when their symptoms are under control.
In this study, we will test if a new program can improve physical activity and decrease the sitting time in people with knee osteoarthritis.
What Did We Do?
SuPRA is a program that uses new digital activity trackers (Fitbit Flex) paired with a web based application (app) and physical activity counselling to help people with knee pain be more physically active safely and at their own pace. The program previously used in MONITOR-OA has been changed to create a new application called FitViz. It is a web application that is paired with Fitbit Flex to display information on the level of physical activity.
The SuPRA program involved:
- A one-time group education session in the Greater Vancouver Area on knee osteoarthritis, physical activity, and sedentary lifestyle.
- The use of Fitbit Flex paired with the FitViz app.
- Online/telephone physical activity counselling by a registered physiotherapist.
Who Was Involved?
We will recruit 60 people with knee osteoarthritis or persistent knee pain. Participants may be eligible if they:
- Have knee pain, or have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.
- Have not had an acute knee injury in the last 6 months.
- Have no previous experience in using any physical activity wearables.
We will randomly assign eligible participants to one of the two groups to either receive the intervention immediately (first group) or wait 3 months before getting the intervention (second group). Participants in the first group will be attend a group education session, use a Fitbit Flex activity tracker with the new app, and receive physical activity counselling by a registered physiotherapist. Participants in the second group will wait 3 months to start the same intervention.
During the study period, participants will complete online questionnaires and wear a research-based accelerometer for 7 days at baseline, and at the end of Month 3, 6, and 9.
How Did People Get Involved?
Contact: Johnathan Tam, Research Coordinator
Phone: 604.207.4027
Email: jtam@arthritisresearch.ca
The Research Team
Principal Investigator:
Linda Li, BSc(PT), MSc, PhD, FCAHS, Senior Scientist, Implementation Science, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)
Co-Investigators:
Dr. Lynne Feehan, BScPT, MSc, PhD, Lead, Clinical Research, Rehabilitation, Fraser Health; Clinical Associate Professor, (University of British Columbia)
Paul Adam, MSW, Rheumatology Liaison and Outreach Services Coordinator, Mary Pack Arthritis Centre
J. Antonio Avina-Zubieta, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPC, Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)
Catherine Backman, PhD, FCAOT, Senior Scientist, Rehabilitation, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)
Dr. Charles Goldsmith, MSc, PhD, Professor, Biostatistics, (Simon Fraser University)
Dr. Diane Gromala, PhD, Professor, (Simon Fraser University)
Alison Hoens, BScPT, MSc, Knowledge Broker, Arthritis Research Canada (University of British Columbia)
Greg Noonan, PT, Physiotherapy Practice Coordinator, Mary Pack Arthritis Centre
Dr. Chris Shaw, PhD, Associate Professor, (Simon Fraser University)
Dr. Richard Smith, PhD, Associate Professor, (Simon Fraser University)
Anne Townsend, MA, PhD, Affiliate Scientist, Bioethics, Arthritis Research Canada (Lancaster University)
Research Staff:
Halima Elmi, Research Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada
Juliane Chien, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada
Johnathan Tam, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada
Jenny Leese, MA, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Arthritis Research Canada Trainee
Jasmina Geldman, Research Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada
Graham Macdonald, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada
Collaborators:
Cheryl Koehn, President, Arthritis Consumer Experts
Who Funded This Research?
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
