Osteoarthritis, KneeNCT03314428
Gait Retraining for Runners With Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing Gait retraining in people with Osteoarthritis, Knee, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) is highly prevalent in older adults, and often causes symptoms and functional limitations. Physical activity is widely advocated in people with TFOA, and running is an easy and accessible activity that provides many benefits on general health. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
- What is being tested?
- Gait retraining
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 0 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2025to Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- TFOA of Grade 2 (mild) or 3 (moderate) on the Kellgren and Lawrence scale
- report knee pain greater than or equal to 3/10 on a numerical pain rating scale (0-10) during most days of the previous month
- run at least 10 km per week for a minimum of 6 months
- declare being comfortable running on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes
Who cannot join
- history of traumatic knee injury
- neurological or inflammatory arthritic condition
- cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease preventing from safely performing moderate intensity running
- presence of any lower limb condition affecting running (other than TFOA)
- use of any oral or injected corticosteroids or viscosupplementation in the previous six months
- regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics or knee unloading bracing devices before, during or after running
- non-English speaking
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site
Robert H.N. Ho Research Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Gait Retraining in Runners With Knee Osteoarthritis
Tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) is highly prevalent in older adults, and often causes symptoms and functional limitations. Physical activity is widely advocated in people with TFOA, and running is an easy and accessible activity that provides many benefits on general health. However, running induces high knee loads, which could potentially contribute to symptoms of runners with TFOA. Previous studies have suggested that running gait modifications can help in decreasing symptoms and knee loading in runners with knee conditions. Yet, no study has been conducted in runners with TFOA. This intervention study will investigate the effects of a 4-week running gait retraining program on symptoms and running biomechanics in runners with TFOA. We hypothesize that running modifications will decrease symptoms, improve function and reduce knee loading.
- Conditions
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
- Being tested
- Gait retraining
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Gait retrainingBehavioural
Over a 4-week period, runners will be asked to increase their step rate to reduce knee loading during running. Specifically, they will have to increase their preferred step rate by 10% during weekly laboratory running sessions as well as during habitual running training. In the laboratory, runners will be provided with live visual/auditory biofeedback on step rate and asked to target a specific value representing 110% or preferred step rate. During their individual running sessions, runners will be wearing a GPS-enabled watch that will provide feedback on live step rate, and they will be asked to maintain the same value as in the laboratory.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Gait retraining | Experimental | Runners will be taught how to modify their running gait through multiple laboratory sessions and in-field training. Receives: Behavioral: Gait retraining |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) change
Validated questionnaire on symptoms and functional limitations related to knee osteoarthritis. The score is expressed in percentage (0-100), with 0 representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no knee problems.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months
Peak knee adduction moment impulse change
Validated surrogate measure of knee joint loading during movement. Expressed as Nm/kg*sec
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Numerical pain rating scale for pain during running change
Validated scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain), in which participants rate their worst level of pain during running over the previous week.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months
Step rate change
Number of steps taken during one minute of running.
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Peak knee flexion moment impulse change
Validated surrogate measure of knee joint loading during running. Expressed as Nm/kg*sec
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Oct 2017
- Study start1 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completionJul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)
Why it stopped: Inability to commence study after COVID-19 research curtailment and loss of research personnel
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Osteoarthritis, KneeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single Group cohort study
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Hunt, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- Michael A Hunt, PT, PhD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03314428
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H17-01228
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Oct 2017
- Last updated
- 6 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Gait Retraining in Runners With Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03314428
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H17-01228
- Conditions
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- WithdrawnReason stopped: Inability to commence study after COVID-19 research curtailment and loss of research personnel
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Oct 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) is highly prevalent in older adults, and often causes symptoms and functional limitations. Physical activity is widely advocated in people with TFOA, and running is an easy and accessible activity that provides many benefits on general health. However, running induces high knee loads, which could potentially contribute to symptoms of runners with TFOA. Previous studies have suggested that running gait modifications can help in decreasing symptoms and knee loading in runners with knee conditions. Yet, no study has been conducted in runners with TFOA. This intervention study will investigate the effects of a 4-week running gait retraining program on symptoms and running biomechanics in runners with TFOA. We hypothesize that running modifications will decrease symptoms, improve function and reduce knee loading.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single Group cohort study
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Gait retraining | Experimental | Behavioral: Gait retrainingRunners will be taught how to modify their running gait through multiple laboratory sessions and in-field training. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- TFOA of Grade 2 (mild) or 3 (moderate) on the Kellgren and Lawrence scale
- report knee pain greater than or equal to 3/10 on a numerical pain rating scale (0-10) during most days of the previous month
- run at least 10 km per week for a minimum of 6 months
- declare being comfortable running on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- history of traumatic knee injury
- neurological or inflammatory arthritic condition
- cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease preventing from safely performing moderate intensity running
- presence of any lower limb condition affecting running (other than TFOA)
- use of any oral or injected corticosteroids or viscosupplementation in the previous six months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Gait retrainingOver a 4-week period, runners will be asked to increase their step rate to reduce knee loading during running. Specifically, they will have to increase their preferred step rate by 10% during weekly laboratory running sessions as well as during habitual running training. In the laboratory, runners will be provided with live visual/auditory biofeedback on step rate and asked to target a specific value representing 110% or preferred step rate. During their individual running sessions, runners will be wearing a GPS-enabled watch that will provide feedback on live step rate, and they will be asked to maintain the same value as in the laboratory. | Behavioural | Gait retraining |
Primary outcome
Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) change
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months
Validated questionnaire on symptoms and functional limitations related to knee osteoarthritis. The score is expressed in percentage (0-100), with 0 representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no knee problems.
Peak knee adduction moment impulse change
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Validated surrogate measure of knee joint loading during movement. Expressed as Nm/kg*sec
3 secondary outcomes
Numerical pain rating scale for pain during running change
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months
Step rate change
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Peak knee flexion moment impulse change
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 4 months
Results and safety
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Mar 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael A Hunt, PT, PhD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Gait retraining in people with Osteoarthritis, Knee, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) change (time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Mar 2026.