Blood flow restriction exercise and pain education for knee osteoarthritis

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with knee osteoarthritis in one knee. It tests blood flow restriction training and pain education added to standard physical therapy.

Age

40 to 70 years

Sex

Men and women

Disease stage

Osteoarthritis in one knee only, confirmed by exam and X-ray, Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3.

Earlier treatment

No injections into the joint within the last 3 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Peripheral vascular disease (poor blood flow in the limbs)
• Active cancer
• Infection or open wound on the leg
• Uncontrolled heart or nerve conditions that limit exercise
• Cognitive or psychiatric disorders

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 40 and 70 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic, progressive degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage and bone degeneration, synovial inflammation, and structural changes. Clinically, it presents with pain, morning stiffness, swelling, crepitus, and limited range of motion, leading to functional impairment, gait abnormalities, and reduced quality of life. Globally, KOA affects ~302 million people. In Saudi Arabia, prevalence rises from 30.8% (ages 46-55) to >60% (ages 66-75), with higher rates in older, female, and obese individuals. Key risk factors include aging, female sex, obesity, prior knee injury, and genetics. The condition imposes significant health burdens and socioeconomic costs.

The 3 groups in the trial

• control groupExisting treatment, for comparison

  All participants will be received conventional TENS (Chattanooga, Intellect Advanced, USA) and exercises

  Treatment: Standard Treatment, Pain neuroscience education, and Blood flow restriction training

• Pain neuroscience education groupTreatment being tested

  The PNE will include five dimensions with a focus on reducing fear-avoidance beliefs and catastrophic thoughts to promote self-efficacy. This educational session will be provided only by one therapist to all the participants. The session includes a verbal explanation with a visual presentation on PowerPoint with a duration of 30-45 minutes. Educational content of the session will include pictures, examples, and metaphors for explaining pain. The metaphorical alarm system will be used to describe the nervous system's sensitivity. plus the standard treatment given to the control group.

  Treatment: Pain neuroscience education

• Blood flow restriction trainingTreatment being tested

  The participant will receive the same intervention of control group in addition to Blood flow restriction training. For blood flow restriction, a 10 cm cuff (Theratool, China) will be placed around the most proximal portion of the exercising leg (around the bulk of the quadriceps). While the subject is seated on a chair, the pressure cuff will be inflated to 120 mmHg for 30 seconds, then deflated. The pressure cuff will then be inflated four more times, with each period increased by 20 mmHg. Each period lasted 30 seconds, and the cuff was released for 10 seconds between periods until a final pressure of 200 mmHg was reached. With the pressure maintained at 200 mmHg, the subjects then will perform a four set of leg extension exercises (75 repetitions across four sets of exercises, with 30 repetitions in the first set and 15 repetitions in each subsequent set) at the final exercise pressure, the exercise loads will be set between 20 and 40% of 1RM,for three time per week /8weeks