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Trials
Published in: Trials 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Telemedicine | Study protocol

The effectiveness of telehealth gait retraining in addition to standard physical therapy treatment for overuse knee injuries in soldiers: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Authors: Michael S. Crowell, Richard A. Brindle, Erin M. Miller, Nicholas Reilly, Kevin R. Ford, Donald L. Goss

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Introduction

Running is the most common cardiovascular exercise in the military. However, there is a high incidence of running-related overuse injuries that reduces military readiness. Gait retraining is a common intervention to treat running-related injuries, but the high cost of equipment and lack of clinician expertise and availability reduces utilization. Gait retraining intervention in a telehealth format might improve feasibility. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of a telehealth gait retraining intervention on pain, self-reported function, and biomechanical risk factors for injury in service members who present to a Military Health System physical therapy clinic with an overuse knee injury.

Methods

This is a parallel, two-arm, single-blind randomized clinical trial. The two independent variables are intervention (2 levels: telehealth gait retraining intervention with standard of care or only standard of care) and time (3 levels: baseline, 10 weeks or post-intervention, 14 weeks). Participants between the ages of 18 to 60 years will be included if they report knee pain during and/or after running to be anywhere from a 3 to a 7 on the numerical pain rating scale and demonstrate a rearfoot strike pattern. The primary dependent variables are as follows: (1) pain (worst pain during and/or after running) and (2) foot strike pattern (conversion rate from rearfoot to non-rearfoot foot strike pattern during running). Secondary outcomes include patient self-reported function and running biomechanics.

Discussion

The effectiveness of a telehealth gait retraining intervention to reduce pain and modify foot strike pattern is not known. The results of this study may help determine the effectiveness and feasibility of a telehealth gait retraining intervention to reduce pain, change foot strike, improve function, and improve running gait biomechanics.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04269473. Registered 05 February 2020.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
The effectiveness of telehealth gait retraining in addition to standard physical therapy treatment for overuse knee injuries in soldiers: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial
Authors
Michael S. Crowell
Richard A. Brindle
Erin M. Miller
Nicholas Reilly
Kevin R. Ford
Donald L. Goss
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07502-x

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