NCT01489462

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this study is to compare the effects of a high and low intensity strength training programs vs. a control group on knee pain and compressive joint forces.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
377

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable knee-osteoarthritis

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2012

Longer than P75 for not_applicable knee-osteoarthritis

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 22, 2011

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 9, 2011

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2012

Completed
6.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2018

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

April 20, 2020

Status Verified

October 1, 2017

Enrollment Period

6.4 years

First QC Date

November 22, 2011

Last Update Submit

April 15, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

ArthritisOsteoarthritisStrength Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • WOMAC Pain

    To determine if an 18-month, high-intensity strength-training intervention significantly decreases pain relative to low-intensity strength training and attention control groups. The pain index assesses participants' pain on a scale, ranging from 0 (none) to 4 (extreme). The pain subscale consists of 5 items and total scores can range from 0-20, with larger scores indicating greater pain.

    Baseline, 18 months

  • Knee Compressive Forces

    To compare the effects of 18 months of high-intensity strength training, low-intensity strength training, and attention control on knee-joint compressive forces during walking.

    Baseline, 18 Months

Secondary Outcomes (10)

  • WOMAC Pain

    Baseline, 6 months

  • WOMAC Function

    Baseline, 6 months

  • Mobility

    Baseline, 6 months

  • Knee Compressive Forces

    Baseline, 6 months

  • WOMAC Function

    Baseline, 18 Months

  • +5 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

High Intensity Strength Training

EXPERIMENTAL

The strength-training intervention will consist of 5-min warm-up, 40-min training, and 15-min cool-down. The 60-min sessions will be conducted 3 times/wk for 18 months. Every 2 weeks the load lifted will be adjusted so that the participants in this group are lifting 3 sets of each exercise at 75-90% of 1RM.

Behavioral: High Intensity Strength Training

Low Intensity Strength Training

EXPERIMENTAL

The strength-training intervention will consist of 5-min warm-up, 40-min training, and 15-min cool-down. The 60-min sessions will be conducted 3 times/wk for 18 months. Every 2 weeks the load lifted will be adjusted so that the participants are lifting 3 sets of 15 repetitions at 30-40% of 1RM.

Behavioral: Low Intensity Strength Training

Attention Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control group will attend 60-min organized workshops 2 times/month for the first 6 months and then 1 time/month for months 7-18. Over the 18 months interactive presentations will cover such topics as foot care, nutrition, managing medication, and sleep practices, and experts will give wide-ranging lectures.

Behavioral: Attention Control

Interventions

The strength-training intervention will consist of 5-min warm-up, 40-min training, and 15-min cool-down. The 60-min sessions will be conducted 3 times/wk for 18 months. Every 2 weeks the load lifted will be adjusted so that the participants in this group are lifting 3 sets of each exercise at 75-90% of 1RM.

High Intensity Strength Training

The strength-training intervention will consist of 5-min warm-up, 40-min training, and 15-min cool-down. The 60-min sessions will be conducted 3 times/wk for 18 months. Every 2 weeks the load lifted will be adjusted so that the participants are lifting 3 sets of 15 repetitions at 30-40% of 1RM.

Low Intensity Strength Training

Participants in the control group will attend 60-min organized workshops 2 times/month for the first 6 months and then 1 time/month for months 7-18. Over the 18 months interactive presentations will cover such topics as foot care, nutrition, managing medication, and sleep practices, and experts will give wide-ranging lectures.

Attention Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age50 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Mild to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis

You may not qualify if:

  • BMI \<20 kg/m2 and ≥45 kg/m2
  • Knee varus malalignment
  • Participation in formal strength training for more than 30 min/week in the past 6 months.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Messier SP, Mihalko SL, Beavers DP, Nicklas BJ, DeVita P, Carr JJ, Hunter DJ, Lyles M, Guermazi A, Bennell KL, Loeser RF. Effect of High-Intensity Strength Training on Knee Pain and Knee Joint Compressive Forces Among Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: The START Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021 Feb 16;325(7):646-657. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.0411.

  • Messier SP, Mihalko SL, Beavers DP, Nicklas BJ, DeVita P, Carr JJ, Hunter DJ, Williamson JD, Bennell KL, Guermazi A, Lyles M, Loeser RF. Strength Training for Arthritis Trial (START): design and rationale. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013 Jul 15;14:208. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-208.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, KneeArthritisOsteoarthritis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesRheumatic Diseases

Study Officials

  • Stephen P Messier, PhD

    Wake Forest University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 22, 2011

First Posted

December 9, 2011

Study Start

March 1, 2012

Primary Completion

August 1, 2018

Study Completion

August 1, 2018

Last Updated

April 20, 2020

Record last verified: 2017-10

Locations