Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)NCT07490977
Cross-Education From Unilateral Strength and Balance Training in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis and 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), run by University of Zagreb at 1 site in Croatia.
Trial summary
Kinesitherapy is one of the main tools in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis, but is often limited due to pain, reduced functionality, and fear of falling in older adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
- What is being tested?
- 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis and 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCroatia
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 60 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age 60-80 years,
- bilateral knee osteoarthritis of grade II-III according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification
Who cannot join
- acute lower extremity injuries in the past year,
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the past month,
- involvement in physical therapy within the past 6 months,
- undergoing intra-articular injections and/or knee surgery within the past year,
- rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes, other systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and severe cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic comorbidities
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Assoc. Prof. Tatjana Trošt, PhD contact
About this study
Official title: Cross-Education of Combined Unilateral Strength and Balance Training on Motor Function in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
Kinesitherapy is one of the main tools in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis, but is often limited due to pain, reduced functionality, and fear of falling in older adults. This study will, through three sub-studies, examine the effects of unilateral training programs on strength, movement control, balance, and pain in the contralateral leg, as well as on functionality, fall risk, and kinesiophobia in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis through three sub-studies. A total of 45 participants (aged 60-80 years) with bilateral knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. combined unilateral strength and balance training; 2. unilateral balance training; 3. unilateral strength training. Strength will be measured with maximal voluntary contraction, balance using a single leg stance test on an unstable surface, movement control with an active joint position reproduction test, and functionality using the six-minute walk test and the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire. Pain will be assessed with the Visual Analog Scale and the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire, fall risk with the Timed Up and Go test and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International questionnaire, and kinesiophobia using the TAMPA questionnaire. This study will expand knowledge on cross-transfer and its effects on symptoms in the rehabilitation of older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.
This research is a part of a doctoral thesis conducted under the supervision of assoc. prof. Tatjana Trošt, PhD.
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Being tested
- 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisOther
Participants perform unilateral exercises with the less affected leg, combining strength and balance training. Each session lasts 50 minutes, including warm-up, main exercises (15-20 min), and relaxation. The program consists of 24 sessions over 8 weeks.
8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisOther
Participants perform unilateral balance exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main balance exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions.
8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisOther
Participants perform unilateral strength exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main strength exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Unilateral strength and balance training group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
| Unilateral balance training group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
| Unilateral strength training group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in balance performance in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis after 8 weeks of unilateral strength and/or balance training across all three intervention groups
Measured: From baseline (pre-intervention) to the end of the 8-week training program
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Mar 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)Studies 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Zagreb
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Zagreb, The Faculty of Kinesiology
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lara Juriša, University of Zagreb
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07490977
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 13/2025
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 24 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 24 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cross-Education of Combined Unilateral Strength and Balance Training on Motor Function in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07490977
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 13/2025
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of ZagrebUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Zagreb, The Faculty of Kinesiology
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Mar 2026 (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.
Kinesitherapy is one of the main tools in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis, but is often limited due to pain, reduced functionality, and fear of falling in older adults. This study will, through three sub-studies, examine the effects of unilateral training programs on strength, movement control, balance, and pain in the contralateral leg, as well as on functionality, fall risk, and kinesiophobia in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis through three sub-studies. A total of 45 participants (aged 60-80 years) with bilateral knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. combined unilateral strength and balance training; 2. unilateral balance training; 3. unilateral strength training. Strength will be measured with maximal voluntary contraction, balance using a single leg stance test on an unstable surface, movement control with an active joint position reproduction test, and functionality using the six-minute walk test and the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire. Pain will be assessed with the Visual Analog Scale and the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain questionnaire, fall risk with the Timed Up and Go test and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International questionnaire, and kinesiophobia using the TAMPA questionnaire. This study will expand knowledge on cross-transfer and its effects on symptoms in the rehabilitation of older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.
This research is a part of a doctoral thesis conducted under the supervision of assoc. prof. Tatjana Trošt, PhD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Unilateral strength and balance training group | Experimental | Other: 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
| Unilateral balance training group | Experimental | Other: 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
| Unilateral strength training group | Experimental | Other: 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- age 60-80 years,
- bilateral knee osteoarthritis of grade II-III according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- acute lower extremity injuries in the past year,
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs within the past month,
- involvement in physical therapy within the past 6 months,
- undergoing intra-articular injections and/or knee surgery within the past year,
- rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes, other systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and severe cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic comorbidities
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisParticipants perform unilateral exercises with the less affected leg, combining strength and balance training. Each session lasts 50 minutes, including warm-up, main exercises (15-20 min), and relaxation. The program consists of 24 sessions over 8 weeks. | Other | Unilateral strength and balance training group |
| 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisParticipants perform unilateral balance exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main balance exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions. | Other | Unilateral balance training group |
| 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee OsteoarthritisParticipants perform unilateral strength exercises with the less affected leg. Each 50-minute session includes warm-up, 15-20 minutes of main strength exercises, and relaxation. The program lasts 8 weeks with 24 sessions. | Other | Unilateral strength training group |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in balance performance in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis after 8 weeks of unilateral strength and/or balance training across all three intervention groups
Time frame: From baseline (pre-intervention) to the end of the 8-week training program
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 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.
Assoc. Prof. Tatjana Trošt, PhD contact
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 8-Week Unilateral Strength and Balance Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis, 8-Week Unilateral Balance Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis and 8-Week Unilateral Strength Training Program for the Less Affected Leg in Older Adults With Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), run by University of Zagreb at 1 site in Croatia.
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 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 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 Croatia. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Lara Juriša, PhD candidate (00385989165960, lara.jurisa@kif.unizg.hr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from baseline in balance performance in older adults with bilateral knee osteoarthritis after 8 weeks of unilateral strength and/or balance training across all three intervention groups (time frame: From baseline (pre-intervention) to the end of the 8-week training program). 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 24 Mar 2026.