NCT02065518

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to compare three treatment regimens for knee injury to the standard rehabilitation protocol: 1) NMES, 2) graduated strength walking (via a weighted vest), and 3) NMES combined with graduated strength walking. Each treatment arm will be supplemented by the standard of care and compared to a group who receive the standard rehabilitation only. The Study will compare the effects of NMES, Strength Walking and combined NMES/ Strength Walking on strength, mobility, symptomatology, and Quality of Life (QOL) in military members with knee injury to a standard rehabilitation protocol program only. All groups will participate in standard rehabilitation protocol. The groups will be assessed over 18 weeks to compare main and interactive effects over time.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
78

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2014

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

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

February 12, 2014

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 19, 2014

Completed
10 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2014

Completed
2.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2016

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2018

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

August 14, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

August 28, 2019

Status Verified

October 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

2.4 years

First QC Date

February 12, 2014

Results QC Date

July 23, 2019

Last Update Submit

August 20, 2019

Conditions

Keywords

Muscle strengthElectrical muscle stimulationStrength training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

  • Lower Extremity Muscle Strength- Extension

    Muscle strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer for extensor knee strength of the injured and uninjured knee.

    0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Lower Extremity Muscle Strength- Flexion

    Muscle strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer for flexor knee strength of the injured and uninjured knee.

    0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Lower Extremity Mobility- 6-Minute Walk Test

    Mobility was measured by the distance walked at a fast pace over 6-minutes,

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Lower Extremity Strength- Chair Test

    Mobility was measured by the number of complete standing and sitting cycles in 30-seconds

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Lower Extremity Mobility and Endurance- Step Test

    Mobility and endurance were measured by the number of up and down step cycles completed in 2-minutes.

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Overall Pain Severity

    0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Knee Pain Following Performance Testing- 6-Minute Walk Test

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Knee Pain Following Performance Testing- Chair Stand Test

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Knee Pain Following Performance Testing- 2-Minute Step Test

    0, 6, 12, and 18 weeks

  • Activities of Daily Living- Knee Symptoms

    0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (4)

Standard Rehabilitation Protocol (SRP)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

All participants will receive the current standard of care, the physical therapy rehabilitation protocol for knee injuries at the WRNMMC and MGMCSC sites. This program includes treatment supervised by a physical therapist at the physical therapy clinics.

Behavioral: Standard Rehabilitation Protocol

NMES w/ SRP

EXPERIMENTAL

In addition to the standard rehabilitation protocol, two treatment groups will receive a portable lightweight device (300PV unit) that provides clearly defined electrical stimuli. NMES training will consist of performing four 30-minute stimulation sessions per week for 12 weeks; each 30-minute session will entail 15 minutes/leg with 15 contractions per leg. Each contraction will be elicited by an electrical impulse (300PV) generated by a battery-operated device (EMPI, St. Paul, MN).

Device: NMESBehavioral: Standard Rehabilitation Protocol

Strength Walking w/ SRP

EXPERIMENTAL

The Strength Walking groups will participate in a Home-Based Pedometer-Driven Walking Program. All participants in this group will be given a pedometer to monitor their daily steps and, at week 7, a weighted exercise vest to begin the strengthening component. In addition to the standard WRNMMC rehabilitation protocol, a series of 10-minute lessons focused on increasing physical activity through lifestyle education and the use of a pedometer as a motivational tool and personal fitness tracker will be incorporated into their testing sessions for the first 6 weeks. At week 7, participants will be given a weighted vest to begin the strengthening component.

Behavioral: Strength WalkingBehavioral: Standard Rehabilitation Protocol

NMES/Strength Walking w/ SRP

EXPERIMENTAL

In addition to the standard rehabilitation protocol, one group will receive NMES training and will participate in a Home-Based Pedometer-Driven Walking Program. This group will follow the protocol for both the NMES training and Strength Walking.

Device: NMESBehavioral: Strength WalkingBehavioral: Standard Rehabilitation Protocol

Interventions

NMESDEVICE

Participants will train at 15-20% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during weeks 1-3, 21-30% of MVC during weeks 3-6 and 31-40% of MVC during weeks 6-9, 41-50% of MVC during weeks 9-12, then sustain 50% of MVC during weeks 12-18. Incremental increases will be made at the 3, 6, 9, and 12-week clinic visits.

Also known as: EMPI 300PV neuromuscular stimulator
NMES w/ SRPNMES/Strength Walking w/ SRP

Strength Walking participants will maintain a daily training log. Pedometer readings will form the basis for setting activity goals. Initial step goals will be 10% above the average 3-day pedometer step count taken at baseline, with a 10% increase every other week, and then a gradual increase when 30% above the baseline step count has been achieved. At week 7, participants will be given a weighted vest to begin the strengthening component. Participants will be instructed to wear the vest during their 30-minute walk, 3 to 4 days a week. The beginning weight load for the vest will be calculated using 2% of baseline body weight and it will be increased by that same amount every week thereafter until the end of the 12 weeks.

NMES/Strength Walking w/ SRPStrength Walking w/ SRP

All participants will receive the current standard of care at the 2 military sites (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) and Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center (MGMCSC)) of the physical therapy rehabilitation protocol for knee injuries. This program includes treatment with a physical therapist at WRNMMC and MGMCSC physical therapy clinic.

NMES w/ SRPNMES/Strength Walking w/ SRPStandard Rehabilitation Protocol (SRP)Strength Walking w/ SRP

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 50 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • A diagnosis of knee injury (internal derangement of the knee with new effusion, including knee sprain or strains, meniscal tear, cruciate ligamentous tear, and chondral flap or injury);
  • A diagnosis of knee pain that is anterior knee pain, overuse pain, patella-femoral pain, and chronic pain (less than 6 months) associated with overuse syndromes which negatively impacts performance by (a) pain in 1 or both knees on most days of the month; b) self reported difficulty performing at least one or more tasks due to pain: stair climbing, rising from a chair, walking or running a quarter mile, repetitive movements such as kneeling or squatting or stooping, pain that inhibits job performance and daily activities;
  • Military service member at the time of injury (active duty military and Reserve/ National Guard in active duty status);
  • Age ≥18 and ≤50 years;
  • Ability to provide freely given informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

  • Fracture or injury to external knee structures such that knee extension or flexion is impaired;
  • Evidence of a fracture on radiographs or clinical evidence of unstable tendon tear/rupture;
  • A significant co-morbid medical condition (such as severe hypertension or neurological disorder in which NMES strength training or unsupervised exercise is contraindicated and would pose a safety threat or impair ability to participate;
  • Inability or unwillingness to participate in a walking or strengthening program;
  • Inability to speak and/or read English;
  • Reduced sensory perception in the lower extremities;
  • Inability to walk on a treadmill without an assistive device;
  • Vision impairment, where participant is classified as legally blind;
  • Unwillingness to accept random assignment;
  • Pregnancy;
  • A score of 23 or greater on the Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression scale (CES-D);
  • If the person has a demand type implanted pacemaker or defibrillator.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 20762, United States

Location

Walter Reed National Military Medical Cener

Bethesda, Maryland, 20889, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Talbot LA. (2016). Electromyostimulation and Strength Walking for Knee Injuries: Nurse Managed Care. 19 p, NTIS Report No.: PB2017102173.

    BACKGROUND
  • Talbot LA, Brede E, Price MN, Zuber PD, Metter EJ. Self-Managed Strength Training for Active Duty Military With a Knee Injury: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Mil Med. 2019 Jul 1;184(7-8):e174-e183. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usy347.

  • Talbot LA, Brede E, Price M, Metter EJ. Health-related quality of life in active duty military: A secondary data analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Nurs Outlook. 2017 Sep-Oct;65(5S):S53-S60. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2017.07.010. Epub 2017 Jul 25.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Knee Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg InjuriesWounds and Injuries

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Laura Talbot
Organization
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Study Officials

  • Laura A Talbot, PhD, RN

    University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 12, 2014

First Posted

February 19, 2014

Study Start

March 1, 2014

Primary Completion

August 1, 2016

Study Completion

August 1, 2018

Last Updated

August 28, 2019

Results First Posted

August 14, 2019

Record last verified: 2018-10

Locations