Physical Therapy Program and Treatment Expectations in Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT07618403 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Gonartroz -Tedavi Beklentisi
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in the literature investigating the relationship between the success of physical therapy programs applied in knee osteoarthritis and patients' pre-treatment expectations. The rationale for this study is to demonstrate the possible relationship between treatment expectations and the benefits seen from conventional physical therapy programs in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and to provide clinicians with a different perspective in knee osteoarthritis treatment planning.

Conditions

Gonarthrosis; Primary; Physical Therapy; Patients' Expectations

Keywords

treatment expectations; gonarthrosis; physical treatment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score

  WOMAC score evaluation following the last treatment session. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a widely used, validated questionnaire designed to assess pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. It consists of 24 items divided into three subscales: pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function (17 items). Patients rate their symptoms on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating worse pain, stiffness, or functional limitations. The WOMAC is commonly used in clinical research to evaluate the efficacy of various treatments for osteoarthritis.

  From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pain level; VAS score

  From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks

• Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

  From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks

• Stair Climbing Test (SCT)

  From enrollment day to the end of the rehabilitation program at 4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Those with Low Treatment Expectations

Using the Turkish version of the Treatment Expectation Questionnaire (TEX-Q)(English version is provided in the documents section), patients will be divided into two groups: those with low expectations and those with high expectations.

Other: Physical Therapy

Those with High Treatment Expectations

Using the Turkish version of the Treatment Expectation Questionnaire (TEX-Q)(English version is provided in the documents section), patients will be divided into two groups: those with low expectations and those with high expectations.

Other: Physical Therapy

Interventions

Physical Therapy OTHER

Patients in both groups will receive 15 sessions of a conventional physical therapy program.

Those with High Treatment Expectations; Those with Low Treatment Expectations

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients aged 50 years and older who present with knee pain and are found to have grade 2 or higher gonarthrosis according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification on X-ray imaging.

You may qualify if:

• Agreeing to participate in the study
• Being over 50 years of age
• Having a clinically and radiographically confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
• Having grade 2-3-4 knee osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system
• Being literate

You may not qualify if:

• Previous knee surgery
• Conditions that prevent exercise (such as incurable malignancy, active systemic infection, non-union fracture)
• Presence of accompanying neurological disease affecting the lower extremity
• Severe cognitive impairment (neuropsychiatric disease or condition that will impede cooperation, such as psychosis, dementia)
• History of having received injections or other procedures to the knee joint or physical therapy within the last 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gazi University

Ankara, Yenimahalle, 06170, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

• Fransen M, McConnell S, Harmer AR, Van der Esch M, Simic M, Bennell KL. Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a Cochrane systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2015 Dec;49(24):1554-7. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095424. Epub 2015 Sep 24.

  PMID: 26405113 BACKGROUND

• Mondloch MV, Cole DC, Frank JW. Does how you do depend on how you think you'll do? A systematic review of the evidence for a relation between patients' recovery expectations and health outcomes. CMAJ. 2001 Jul 24;165(2):174-9.

  PMID: 11501456 BACKGROUND

• Levenig CG, Hasenbring MI, Gunnewig L, Titze C, Elsenbruch S, Schulte TL. Treatment Expectations-You Get What You Expect-and Depression Plays a Role. J Pain. 2024 Sep;25(9):104582. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104582. Epub 2024 May 29.

  PMID: 38821312 BACKGROUND

• Myers SS, Phillips RS, Davis RB, Cherkin DC, Legedza A, Kaptchuk TJ, Hrbek A, Buring JE, Post D, Connelly MT, Eisenberg DM. Patient expectations as predictors of outcome in patients with acute low back pain. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Feb;23(2):148-53. doi: 10.1007/s11606-007-0460-5. Epub 2007 Dec 8.

  PMID: 18066631 BACKGROUND

• Robinson ME, Brown JL, George SZ, Edwards PS, Atchison JW, Hirsh AT, Waxenberg LB, Wittmer V, Fillingim RB. Multidimensional success criteria and expectations for treatment of chronic pain: the patient perspective. Pain Med. 2005 Sep-Oct;6(5):336-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2005.00059.x.

  PMID: 16266354 BACKGROUND

• Abdel-Aziz MA, Ahmed HMS, El-Nekeety AA, Abdel-Wahhab MA. Osteoarthritis complications and the recent therapeutic approaches. Inflammopharmacology. 2021 Dec;29(6):1653-1667. doi: 10.1007/s10787-021-00888-7. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

  PMID: 34755232 BACKGROUND

• Lespasio MJ, Piuzzi NS, Husni ME, Muschler GF, Guarino A, Mont MA. Knee Osteoarthritis: A Primer. Perm J. 2017;21:16-183. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-183.

  PMID: 29035179 BACKGROUND

• Jang S, Lee K, Ju JH. Recent Updates of Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment on Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 5;22(5):2619. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052619.

  PMID: 33807695 BACKGROUND

• Hsu H, Siwiec RM. Knee Osteoarthritis. 2023 Jun 26. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507884/

  PMID: 29939661 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Interventions

Physical Therapy Modalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Osteoarthritis; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Levent Karatas

  Gazi University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Burak Tokac

CONTACT

+905313474837; buraktokac96@gmail.com

Levent Karatas

CONTACT

+9005055629437

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 24, 2026
• First Posted: June 1, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2027
• Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)