EMPART – Exercise and Manual Physiotherapy Arthritis Research Trial

Overview

Hip osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and reduced quality of life. Physiotherapy, which encompasses a range of interventions such as exercise therapy, manual therapy, education and electrophysical agents, is a core component of management. To date, exercise therapy to date has the greatest evidence of effect . However, this evidence is limited as only a short-term benefit has been identified and improvements in pain and function decline over time. There is some limited evidence for a beneficial effect of manual therapy over exercise. However, clinically these interventions are used in combination, not in isolation. To date, no research has investigated the combined effect of exercise and manual therapy in hip OA. A multi-centre randomised controlled trial that compares the clinical effectiveness of a combination of manual therapy and exercise to exercise therapy only will be conducted.

Full Title of Study: “The Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy and Manual Therapy in Hip Osteoarthritis – A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Single (Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: September 2010

Detailed Description

A multi-centre RCT that evaluates the clinical effectiveness of two physiotherapy interventions for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip will be conducted The methodology will follow CONSORT (Consolidation of Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines. Ethical approval for the study has been obtained from the Research Ethics Committees of the participating hospitals (Beaumont, St Vincent's University, Mater Misercordiae University Hospitals, Adelaide Meath Hospital Dublin, incorporating National Children's Hospital). Patients will be assessed at baseline, 9 weeks, (end of treatment) and 18 weeks. The treating therapists will be blinded to outcome assessments. Subjects cannot be blinded due to the nature of the interventions. All patients with a diagnosis of Hip OA referred for physiotherapy from rheumatologists, GPs and orthopaedic consultants will be considered for inclusion into the RCT. Four similarly matched physiotherapy departments will be used: Beaumont Hospital (BH), St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) Adelaide Meath Hospital Dublin, incorporating National Children's Hospital) and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMH). Consenting subjects will be randomly allocated to one of 3 groups 1. Exercise therapy (comprising strengthening, range of motion and aerobic exercise) 2. Combined Exercise therapy and Manual Therapy 3. Control group (Waiting List). These patients will remain on the waiting list for a 9 week period and will then be randomized to one of the two intervention groups.

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Exercise therapy
    • Participants will attend an exercise based programme once a week for 8 weeks. This will be supplemented by a home based exercise programme.
  • Behavioral: Combined exercise and manual therapy
    • Patients will attend physiotherapy once a week for 8 weeks, where they will receive a combination of exercise therapy and manual therapy. Exercise will be supplemented by a home based exercise programme

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • No Intervention: Control
    • Waiting List control.
  • Active Comparator: Exercise therapy
  • Experimental: Combined therapy
    • Combined Exercise therapy and Manual Therapy

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) Osteoarthritis Index Physical Function Subscale
    • Time Frame: 0, 9, 18 weeks

Secondary Measures

  • Numerical Rating Scale for Pain
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • WOMAC total score, pain and stiffness subscales
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • Global Assessment of Change- 7 Point Likert Scale
    • Time Frame: 9,18 weeks
  • Hip Range of motion using goniometry
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • Short Form-36v2 (Quality of Life)
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • Physiotherapy Out-Patient Survey for Patient Satisfaction
    • Time Frame: 18 weeks
  • Medication Usage (pain diary and Medication Quantification Scale)
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short version)
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • Repeated sit to stand test
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks
  • 50 foot walk test
    • Time Frame: 0,9,18 weeks

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Clinical criteria for the diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis (American College Rheumatology) (Altman et al, 1991): – Subjective complaint of hip pain with either hip internal rotation < 15 degrees and hip flexion <115 degrees or >15 degrees hip internal rotation and pain on hip internal rotation – morning stiffness less than or equal to 60 minutes, age > 50 years. – Age 40-80 years except in 2 above (age >50 years). – Radiological evidence of osteoarthritis (2 of the following 3 criteria): – osteophytes – joint space narrowing – ESR<20mm/hr (American College of Rheumatology Criteria for the Classification and Reporting of Osteoarthritis of the Hip) – Referred for physiotherapy Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous hip arthroplasty, history of congenital/adolescent hip disease – Clinical signs of lumbar spine disease – Physiotherapy in previous 6 months – Pregnancy – Hip fracture – Contraindications to exercise therapy – Contraindications to manual therapy – On waiting list for joint replacement within the next 18 weeks – Rheumatic diseases e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, etc – Hip cortisone injection in previous 30 days

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 40 Years

Maximum Age: 80 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Prof Geraldine McCarthy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Geraldine McCarthy, MD, FRCPI, Principal Investigator, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
    • Tara Cusack, PhD, Principal Investigator, University College Dublin, Ireland
    • Helen French, MSc, Principal Investigator, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

References

French HP (2007). Physiotherapy management of osteoarthritis of the hip: a survey of current practice in acute hospitals and private practice in the Republic of Ireland, Physiotherapy, 93 (4), 253-260.

French HP, Cusack T, Brennan A, White B, Gilsenan C, Fitzpatrick M, O'Connell P, Kane D, Fitzgerald O, McCarthy GM. Exercise and manual physiotherapy arthritis research trial (EMPART): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009 Jan 19;10:9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-10-9.

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