PROJECTS & FUNDING

Physical therapy Exercise and physical Activity for Knee osteoarthritis (PEAK)

The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of an innovative Telehealth Physical Therapy (PT) program for adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to increase physical activity over 3 months in adults with knee OA compared to a control group receiving web-based resources about knee OA.

This study is funded by the Rheumatology Research Foundation.

We have enrolled 100 adults who have knee osteoarthritis in a 100% online study. These adults are randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group receives a Brief intervention, and the second group receives an Expanded intervention. Both interventions provide guidance on how adults with knee OA can safely exercise and engage in physical activity. We are assessing how both groups change in terms of their knee pain, daily function, and physical activity over the course of 6 months.

Measures of Pain, Function, and Physical Activity in Knee Osteoarthritis: An Observational Study (KICK-OA)

The purpose of this study is to examine changes in pain, function, and physical activity after a corticosteroid knee injection for adults with knee osteoarthritis.

We will include adults with mild or moderate knee OA. These adults will be randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group will receive a knee injection of bone marrow concentrate, which will be extracted from their hip bone, concentrated into important nutrients, and then injected back into their knee; the second group will receive a knee injection of saline. We will assess how both groups change in terms of their knee pain, function, and physical activity over 6 months.

This study received FDA approval in December 2021, and we are in the process of seeking approval from the University of Delaware’s Institutional Review Board.

This study is funded by the Moseley Foundation.

A novel, physical therapy-administered, physical activity intervention after Total Knee Replacement (TKR): A pilot study

We enrolled 43 adults who received outpatient physical therapy (PT) at the University of Delaware after receiving a TKR. These adults were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group received a Fitbit monitor and customized weekly step goals in addition to standard outpatient PT, as well as monthly phone calls for 6 months after discharge from PT. The second group received standard outpatient PT only. We assessed how both groups changed in terms of their knee pain, daily function, and physical activity over 6 months.

A novel, physical therapy-administered, physical activity intervention after Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

We enrolled 125 adults who received outpatient PT at the University of Delaware after receiving a TKR. These adults were randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first group received a Fitbit monitor and customized weekly step goals in addition to standard outpatient PT, and the second group received standard outpatient PT only. We assessed how both groups changed in terms of their knee pain, daily function, and physical activity over 12+ months.

A novel, physical therapy-administered, physical activity intervention after Knee Replacement: Multi-centered pilot study

We enrolled 51 adults who received outpatient PT at HARTZ Physical Therapy, which has five locations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. These adults received pedometers and customized weekly step goals from their treating physical therapist. We assessed how these adults changed in terms of their knee pain, daily function, and physical activity over the course of their outpatient PT.