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  • Research Completed
Supporting physical activity in people with knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis-4-1
Scientific Study Title:
Supporting Physical activity & Reducing sedentary behaviour in Arthritis (SuPRA)
Start Date:
  • January 2017
End Date:
  • Recruitment Completed in 2019
Research Category
Tags
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Linda Li
Senior Scientist, Implementation Science, BSc(PT), MSc, PhD, FCAHS
J. Antonio Avina-Zubieta-Website Headshot-400x400
J. Antonio Aviña-Zubieta
Senior Scientist, Rheumatology, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCP
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Catherine Backman
Senior Scientist Emeritus, Rehabilitation, PhD, FCAOT
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Alison Hoens
Knowledge Broker, MSc, BScPT
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Jenny Leese
MA, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Why do this research?

Reason For 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.

Methodology

Execution of Research

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:

  1. A one-time group education session in the Greater Vancouver Area on knee osteoarthritis, physical activity, and sedentary lifestyle.
  2. The use of Fitbit Flex paired with the FitViz app.
  3. Online/telephone physical activity counselling by a registered physiotherapist.

Who is involved?

Involvement

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

External Partners & Contacts

Cheryl Koehn, President, Arthritis Consumer Experts

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