Knee OsteoarthritisNCT06766877
Effect of Core Stability Versus Ankle Foot Strengthening Exercise in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing core stability exercise and foot-ankle strengthening exercise in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, stiffness, and reduced quality of life. While treatments often focus on drugs or surgery, noninvasive exercises like core stabilization and ankle/foot strengthening show potential but lack comparative studies. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- What is being tested?
- core stability exercise and foot-ankle strengthening exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 22 Jul 2023to 10 May 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
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 40 years old, had been diagnosed with KOA based on ACR, and
- having Grade II or III osteoarthritis by K/L criteria.
Who cannot join
- post-traumatic osteoarthritis
- lower limb sensorimotor dysfunction,
- Any history of knee fracture/ tumor/ infection and hip/knee surgery.
- Total Knee Replacement patients.
- Neurological disease.
- Patient received physical therapy treatment from last 6 months.
- Inflammatory Arthritis (Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- Use of any intra-articular injections (steroid/ hyaluronic acid/ PRP.) from last 3-6 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, stiffness, and reduced quality of life. While treatments often focus on drugs or surgery, noninvasive exercises like core stabilization and ankle/foot strengthening show potential but lack comparative studies. Understanding anatomical factors like Achilles tendon (AT) thickness is crucial for targeted rehabilitation, though measurement reliability remains an issue. This study aims to compare the effects of these exercises on KOA symptoms and evaluate the use of digital calipers for AT thickness measurement, aiming to enhance clinical management of KOA.
Read the detailed description
The objective of the study is:
- To determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of digital calliper to measure the side to side Achilles tendon thickness.
- To determine the impact of 24 sessions of core stability translated in gait ambulation.
- determines the relationships between Achilles tendon thickness (ATT), knee symptoms/functions, and foot alignment in knee OA patients, considering their interconnected biomechanical nature.
- compare the effects of core stability and ankle-foot strengthening exercises on clinical outcomes in KOA patients
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Being tested
- core stability exercise, foot-ankle strengthening exercise
- Keywords
- knee, arthritis, tendon
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee, Arthritis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
core stability exerciseOther
- Isometric quadriceps exercises involving knee extension
- Maximum isometric exercise for the quadriceps
foot-ankle strengthening exerciseOther
- Isometric quadriceps exercises involving knee extension
- Maximum isometric exercise for the quadriceps
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability | Experimental | Core Stability exercises:
Bridging Lateral Step up etc Receives: Other: core stability exercise |
| Foot-ankle strengthening exercise | Active comparator | resistance exercises with proper warm up and cool down Receives: Other: foot-ankle strengthening exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest
Changes from baseline, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is the most commonly used scale in which the pain rate ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). The level of knee perception of pain is assessed by using the VAS.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (6)
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is a 42-item, patient self-administered patient outcome measure designed to measure knee health in five subscales (Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Sport and Recreation and knee-related Quality of Life).
Measured: 8 weeks
40-m fast-paced walk test
This test was conducted as per the guideline of OARSI. The 40-meter Fast-Paced Walk Test (40m FPWT) is a brief physical performance test primarily used to measure maximum short-distance walking speed and the ability to change directions.
Measured: 8 weeks
30 seconds chair stand test
The 30-Second Chair Stand Test (or 30CST) is a quick physical test used to measure lower-body strength and endurance in adults, especially older individuals.
Measured: 8 weeks
stair climb test
Step Stair Climb Test (SCT) is a physical performance test used to evaluate functional strength, balance, and agility in individuals with mobility limitations.
Measured: 8 weeks
Navicular/foot ratio
It is calculated as the quotient of the height of the navicular tuberosity divided by the total length of the foot.
Measured: 8 weeks
Achilles tendon thickness (ATT)
measured side to side thickness using the digital calliper
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jan 2025
- Study start22 Jul 2023
- Primary completion10 May 2026
- Study completion10 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Knee OsteoarthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dow University of Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Shaikh Nabi Bukhsh Nazir, Dow University of Health Sciences
- Investigators
- SHAIKH NABI BUKHSH NAZIR, PhD Scholar, Principal investigator, Dow University of Health Sciences/ Baqai Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06766877
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BMU/Approval?
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Nazir SNB, Asim A. Comparative efficacy of an 8-week core stability program versus foot-ankle strengthening on pain, function, and distal structural parameters in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 26;16(1):23619. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-64385-z.
PubMed 42533024
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Core Stability Versus Ankle Foot Strengthening Exercise in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06766877
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BMU/Approval?
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- knee, arthritis, tendon
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Dow University of Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Jan 2025 (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.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, stiffness, and reduced quality of life. While treatments often focus on drugs or surgery, noninvasive exercises like core stabilization and ankle/foot strengthening show potential but lack comparative studies. Understanding anatomical factors like Achilles tendon (AT) thickness is crucial for targeted rehabilitation, though measurement reliability remains an issue. This study aims to compare the effects of these exercises on KOA symptoms and evaluate the use of digital calipers for AT thickness measurement, aiming to enhance clinical management of KOA.
Detailed description
The objective of the study is:
- To determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of digital calliper to measure the side to side Achilles tendon thickness.
- To determine the impact of 24 sessions of core stability translated in gait ambulation.
- determines the relationships between Achilles tendon thickness (ATT), knee symptoms/functions, and foot alignment in knee OA patients, considering their interconnected biomechanical nature.
- compare the effects of core stability and ankle-foot strengthening exercises on clinical outcomes in KOA patients
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Core Stability | Experimental | Other: core stability exerciseCore Stability exercises: Bridging Lateral Step up etc |
| Foot-ankle strengthening exercise | Active comparator | Other: foot-ankle strengthening exerciseresistance exercises with proper warm up and cool down |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 40 years old, had been diagnosed with KOA based on ACR, and
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- post-traumatic osteoarthritis
- lower limb sensorimotor dysfunction,
- Any history of knee fracture/ tumor/ infection and hip/knee surgery.
- Total Knee Replacement patients.
- Neurological disease.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| core stability exercise1. Isometric quadriceps exercises involving knee extension 2. Maximum isometric exercise for the quadriceps | Other | Core Stability |
| foot-ankle strengthening exercise1. Isometric quadriceps exercises involving knee extension 2. Maximum isometric exercise for the quadriceps | Other | Foot-ankle strengthening exercise |
Primary outcome
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest
Time frame: 8 weeks
Changes from baseline, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is the most commonly used scale in which the pain rate ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). The level of knee perception of pain is assessed by using the VAS.
6 secondary outcomes
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Time frame: 8 weeks
40-m fast-paced walk test
Time frame: 8 weeks
30 seconds chair stand test
Time frame: 8 weeks
stair climb test
Time frame: 8 weeks
Navicular/foot ratio
Time frame: 8 weeks
Achilles tendon thickness (ATT)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Aug 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42533024Nazir SNB, Asim A. Comparative efficacy of an 8-week core stability program versus foot-ankle strengthening on pain, function, and distal structural parameters in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 26;16(1):23619. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-64385-z.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Knee Osteoarthritis
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The Feasibility of a Virtual/Home-based OA Treatment Program in Older Adults With OA and Multimorbidity
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Exploring Factors Linked to Worsening Over Time in People With Early-stage Knee Osteoarthritis and Those With Prior Proven Acute Knee Injury.
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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.
SHAIKH NABI BUKHSH NAZIR, PhD Scholar principal investigator
Dow University of Health Sciences/ Baqai Medical University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing core stability exercise and foot-ankle strengthening exercise in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Dow University of Health Sciences at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 2 inclusion and 8 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Aug 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 Pakistan. 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 is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest (time frame: 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06766877, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 26 Aug 2026.