Diminished vibration perception and greater pressure pain sensitivity are associated with worse knee osteoarthritis outcomes across sex and race.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of vibration sensitivity and pressure pain sensitivity with knee osteoarthritis (OA) outcomes across sex and race, which may relate to known sex and race disparities in clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Data were from the 2013-2015 visit of the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Exposures were vibration perception threshold (VPT) measured at the bilateral medial femoral condyle (MFC) and first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured at the bilateral upper trapezius. Outcomes were knee pain severity and presence of knee symptoms, radiographic knee OA, and symptomatic knee OA in each knee. Cross-sectional associations of the exposures with the outcomes were examined using logistic regression models, overall and separately by sex and race. RESULTS: In the VPT and PPT analyses, 851 and 862 participants (mean age 71 years, 68% female, 33% Black, body mass index 31 kg/m2) and 1585 and 1660 knees were included, respectively. Higher VPT (lower vibration sensitivity) at the MFC and first MTP joint was associated with all outcomes. Lower PPT (greater pressure pain sensitivity) was associated with greater knee pain severity. Associations of VPT and PPT with all outcomes were similar among females and males and Black and White individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished vibration perception and greater pressure pain sensitivity were cross-sectionally associated with worse knee OA outcomes. Despite differences in VPT and PPT among females and males and Black and White adults, associations with knee OA outcomes did not differ by sex or race, suggesting neurophysiological differences do not relate to established disparities.

Daily Walking and the Risk of Knee Replacement Over 5 Years Among Adults With Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of the volume and intensity of daily walking at baseline with the risk of knee replacement (KR) over 5 years in adults with advanced structural knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, and multicenter observational study. SETTING: Osteoarthritis Initiative study with follow-up from 2008-2015. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis were recruited from 4 sites in the United States (N=516; mean age, 67.7±8.6y; body mass index, 29.3±4.7 kg/m2; 52% female). We included participants with advanced structural disease, without KR and had valid daily walking data (quantified using Actigraph GT1M), at baseline. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOMES: KR. Walking volume was measured as steps/day and intensity as minutes/day spent not walking (0 steps/min) and walking at very light (1-49 steps/min), light (50-100 steps/min), or moderate (>100 steps/min) intensities. To examine the relationship of walking volume and intensity with the risk of KR, we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Of 516 adults with advanced structural disease, 88 received a KR over 5 years (17%). Walking an additional 1000 steps/d was not associated with the risk of KR (adjusted HR=0.95; 95% CI, 0.84-1.04). Statistically, replacing 10 min/d of very light and light walking with 10 min/d of moderate walking reduced the risk of KR incidence by 35% and 37%, respectively (adjusted HR=0.65, 95% CI, 0.45-0.94, for very light and adjusted HR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.40-1.00, for light). CONCLUSIONS: Daily walking volume and intensity did not increase KR risk over 5 years and may be protective in some cases in adults with advanced structural knee osteoarthritis.

Quadriceps femoris strength and sagittal-plane knee biomechanics during stair ascent in individuals with articular cartilage defects in the knee.

CONTEXT: Few objective data are available regarding strength and movement patterns in individuals with articular cartilage defects (ACDs) of the knee. OBJECTIVES: To test the following hypotheses: (1) The involved limb of individuals with ACDs would demonstrate lower peak knee-flexion angle, peak internal knee-extension moment, and peak vertical ground-reaction force (vGRF) than the contralateral limb and healthy controls. (2) On the involved limb of individuals with ACDs, quadriceps femoris strength would positively correlate with peak knee-flexion angle, peak internal knee-extension moment, and peak vGRF. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Biomechanics research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 11 individuals with ACDs in the knee who were eligible for surgical cartilage restoration and 10 healthy controls. METHODS: Quadriceps femoris strength was quantified as peak isometric knee-extension torque via an isokinetic dynamometer. Sagittal-plane knee kinematics and kinetics were measured during the stance phase of stair ascent with 3-dimensional motion analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quadriceps strength and knee biomechanics during stair ascent were compared between the involved and contralateral limbs of participants with ACD (paired t tests) and with a control group (independent-samples t tests). Pearson correlations evaluated relationships between strength and stair-ascent biomechanics. RESULTS: Lower quadriceps strength and peak internal knee-extension moments were observed in the involved limb than in the contralateral limb (P < .01) and the control group (P < .01). For the involved limb of the ACD group, quadriceps femoris strength was strongly correlated (r = .847) with involved-limb peak internal knee-extension moment and inversely correlated (r = -.635) with contralateral peak vGRF. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with ACDs demonstrated deficits in quadriceps femoris strength with associated alterations in movement patterns during stair ascent. The results of this study are not comprehensive; further research is needed to understand the physiological characteristics, activity performance, and movement quality in this population.

Early Gait Biomechanics Linked to Daily Steps Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

CONTEXT: Gait biomechanics and daily steps are important aspects of knee joint loading that change following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Understanding their relationship during the first 6 months post-ACLR could help develop comprehensive rehabilitation interventions that promote optimal joint loading following injury, thereby improving long-term knee joint health. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to compare biomechanical gait waveforms throughout stance at early timepoints post-ACLR in individuals with different daily step behaviors at 6 months post-ACLR. The secondary aim was to examine how these gait waveforms compare to those of uninjured controls. DESIGN: Case-Control Study. SETTING: Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with primary ACLR assigned to a low (LSG) (n=13) or high step group (HSG) (n=19) based on their average daily steps at 6 months post- ACLR, and uninjured matched controls (n=32). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Gait biomechanics were collected at 2, 4, and 6 months post-ACLR in ACLR individuals and at a single session for controls. Knee adduction moment (KAM), knee extension moment (KEM), and knee flexion angle (KFA) waveforms were calculated during gait stance and then compared via functional waveform analyses. Mean differences and corresponding 95% confident intervals between groups were reported. RESULTS: Primary results demonstrated lesser KFA (1-45%, 79-92% of stance) and greater KEM (65-93% of stance) at 2 months and greater KAM (14-20%, 68-92% of stance) at 4 months post-ACLR for the HSG compared to the LSG. KEM, KAM, and KFA waveforms differed across various proportions of stance at all timepoints between step groups and controls. CONCLUSION: Differences in gait biomechanics are present at 2 and 4 months post-ACLR between step groups, with the LSG demonstrating an overall more flexed knee and more profound stepwise underloading throughout stance than the HSG. The results indicate a relation between early gait biomechanics and later daily steps behaviors following ACLR.

Effect of sensor location for modifying center of pressure during gait using haptic feedback in people with chronic ankle instability.

BACKGROUND: Gait retraining using haptic biofeedback medially shifts the center of pressure (COP) while walking in orthopedic populations. However, the ideal sensor location needed to effectively shift COP medially has not been identified in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI). RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Can a heel sensor location feasibly be employed in people with CAI without negatively altering kinematics? Does a heel sensor placement relative to the 5th metatarsal head (5MH) impact COP location while walking in people with CAI? METHODS: In this exploratory crossover study, 10 participants with CAI walked on a treadmill with vibration feedback for 10 minutes with a plantar pressure sensor under the heel and 5MH. Separate 2×2 repeated measures analyses of covariances (rmANCOVAs) were used to compare the averaged COP location and 3-D lower extremity kinematics from the first 10% of stance before and after training and between sensor locations. Baseline measures served as covariates to adjust for baseline differences. RESULTS: Feedback triggered by a heel sensor resulted in 40% of participants avoiding a heel strike. There were no significant main effects or interactions between time and sensor location on COP location when controlling for baseline COP (p>0.05). However, with the 5MH placement, participants displayed less ankle internal rotation(IR) (5MH/Heel: -4.12±0.00º/ -6.43±0.62º), less forefoot abduction (-4.29±0.00º/ -5.14±1.01º), more knee flexion (3.40±0.32º/ 0.14±0.57º), less knee external rotation (-10.95±0.00º/-11.24±1.48º), less hip extension (-0.20±0.00º/-1.42±1.05º), and less hip external rotation (3.12±0.00º/3.75±1.98º). SIGNIFICANCE: A 5MH location may be more feasible based on difficulties maintaining heel strike when the sensor was under the heel. While no sensor location was statistically better at changing the COP, the 5MH location decreased proximal transverse plane motions making participants' gait more like controls. Individual response variations support comprehensive lower extremity assessments and the need to identify responder profiles using sensory feedback in people with CAI.

Physical Activity Associates with T1rho MRI of Femoral Cartilage After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Less physical activity has been associated with systemic biomarkers of cartilage breakdown after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, previous research lacks analysis of deleterious cartilage compositional changes and objective physical activity after ACLR. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between physical activity quantified via accelerometer-based measures of daily steps and time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and T1rho magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the femoral articular cartilage, a marker of proteoglycan density in individuals with ACLR. METHODS: Daily steps and MVPA were assessed over 7 d using an accelerometer worn on the hip in 26 individuals between 6 and 12 months after primary unilateral ACLR. Resting T1rho MRI was collected bilaterally, and T1rho MRI interlimb ratios (ILR: ACLR limb/contralateral limb) were calculated for lateral and medial femoral condyle regions of interest. We conducted univariate linear regression analyses to determine associations between T1rho MRI ILRs and daily steps and MVPA with and without controlling for sex. RESULTS: Greater T1rho MRI ILR of the central lateral femoral condyle, indicative of less proteoglycan density in the ACLR limb, was associated with greater time in MVPA ( R2 = 0.178, P = 0.032). Sex-adjusted models showed significant interaction terms between daily steps and sex in the anterior ( P = 0.025), central ( P = 0.002), and posterior ( P = 0.002) medial femoral condyle. CONCLUSIONS: Lesser physical activity may be a risk factor for maintaining cartilage health after ACLR; additionally, the relationship between physical activity and cartilage health may be different between males and females.

Examining Rehabilitation Dose in Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Association With Baseline Factors and Change in Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of baseline factors with rehabilitation dose and the association of rehabilitation dose with meaningful change in physical function, pain, and fatigue over 6 months among adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Using data from the National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases registry, we extracted baseline characteristics and self-reported physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire), pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), fatigue (VAS), rehabilitation dose (low: 1-2 visits, medium: 3-8 visits, high: >8 visits), and follow-up outcomes 6 months later. Changes in clinical outcomes were categorized as improved, no change, or worsened. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using proportional odds logistic regression models to examine the association of the baseline factors with rehabilitation dose and the association of rehabilitation dose with changes in clinical outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The sample included 1,381 adults with a new episode of rehabilitation (dose: low 27%, medium 42%, high 31%). Worse baseline physical function (adjusted OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.04-1.60]), but not pain (adjusted OR 1.04 [95% CI 0.99-1.10]) or fatigue (adjusted OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.93-1.03]), were associated with a higher rehabilitation dose. A high rehabilitation dose was associated with a favorable change in physical function (OR 1.51 [95% CI 1.14-1.98]), pain (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.06-1.96]), and fatigue (OR 1.45 [95% CI 1.06-1.99]) compared to a low dose; only the association with physical function change persisted in adjusted models (adjusted OR 1.41 [95% CI 1.03-1.92]). CONCLUSION: Using real-world data, this study supports a higher rehabilitation dose to improve physical function in adults with RA.

Sociocultural and Economic Disparities in Physical Therapy Utilization Among Insured Older Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine influences of sociocultural and economic determinants on physical therapy (PT) utilization for older adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In these annual cross-sectional analyses between 2012 and 2016, we accessed Medicare enrollment data and fee-for-service claims. The cohort included Medicare beneficiaries with RA based on 3 diagnosis codes or 2 codes plus a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug medication claim. We defined race and ethnicity and dual Medicare/Medicaid coverage (proxy for income) using enrollment data. Adults with a Current Procedural Terminology code for PT evaluation were classified as utilizing PT services. Associations between race and ethnicity and dual coverage and PT utilization were estimated with logistic regression analyses. Potential interactions between race and ethnicity status and dual coverage were tested using interaction terms. RESULTS: Of 106,470 adults with RA (75.1% female; aged 75.8 [SD 7.3] years; 83.9% identified as non-Hispanic White, 8.8% as non-Hispanic Black, 7.2% as Hispanic), 9.6-12.5% used PT in a given year. Non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.77, 95% CI 0.73-0.82) and Hispanic (aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.98) individuals had lower odds of PT utilization than non-Hispanic White individuals. Adults with dual coverage (lower income) had lower odds of utilization than adults with Medicare only (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.43-0.46). There were no significant interactions between race and ethnicity status and dual coverage on utilization. CONCLUSION: We found sociocultural and economic disparities in PT utilization in older adults with RA. We must identify and address the underlying factors that influence these disparities in order to mitigate them.

Predictions of total work based on measures of muscle strength and hop performance in individuals after ACL reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability to utilize clinical measures of hop performance and thigh muscle strength to predict total limb work, a measure of cumulative single leg power, in young athletes at the time of return to sport after ACLR. We hypothesized that hop test performance and thigh muscle strength would predict total limb work during a maximal effort repeated vertical single-leg jump and that hop test performance would better predict total limb work during a maximal effort repeated vertical single-leg jump than measures of thigh strength. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Analysis on data from 50 individuals after unilateral ACLR (74% women, age 14-23 years) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performed 10-s repeated vertical single-leg jump test on a force platform where single limb power and resultant total work were calculated. At the same session, participants completed a clinical single leg hop test battery and thigh strength testing. RESULTS: All clinical measures were associated with total work during the repeated vertical single-leg jump test on the involved and uninvolved limbs, respectfully. After controlling for height and weight, quadriceps femoris peak torque at 180°/s was the strongest predictor of total work for both limbs. On the involved limb, performance on the triple hop test for distance also uniquely contributed to the prediction of total work. CONCLUSIONS: Quadriceps femoris muscle strength and distance hop test performance predict total limb work capacity of the involved limb during a single-leg dynamic task. Optimizing both measures after ACLR may positively impact vital components of sports performance.

Sitting may increase risk for radiographic incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis over 2 years: Data from a large cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of leisure-time sitting with radiographic incidence and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) over 2 years, and to determine whether worktime sitting modifies this association. METHODS: We included adults with or at high risk for knee OA who enroled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Participants reported leisure-time sitting (≤4 vs. >4 h/day) and worktime sitting (frequent vs. infrequent) at enrolment, and had bilateral knee radiographs at enrolment and 2 years later. Our outcome, radiographic knee OA incidence/progression (yes/no), was defined as any increase in Kellgren-Lawrence grade over 2 years. We examined the association of leisure-time sitting (≤4 vs. >4 h/day) with risk of radiographic knee OA incidence/progression using binary linear regression, adjusting for potential confounders. We stratified by worktime sitting (frequent vs. infrequent) and repeated our analysis. RESULTS: We included 4254 adults (mean age 61 years; 58% women; mean body mass index 29 kg/m2 ) who contributed a total of 8127 knees. Adults with >4 h/day of leisure-time sitting had 25% higher risk (adjusted risk ratio [RR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.08-1.50) for radiographic knee OA incidence/progression compared with adults with ≤4 h/day of leisure-time sitting (referent group). Importantly, this association was intensified (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.19-2.33) among adults with frequent worktime sitting, but was attenuated (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.89-1.39) among adults with infrequent worktime sitting. CONCLUSIONS: Higher leisure-time sitting (>4 h/day) may be associated with greater risk for radiographic knee OA incidence/progression over 2 years. Furthermore, this association was intensified among adults who also reported frequent worktime sitting.

Rehabilitation for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: We sought to determine the comparative benefit and harm of rehabilitation interventions for patients who have undergone elective, unilateral total knee arthroplasty for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis. We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1, 2005, through May 3, 2021. We included randomized controlled trials and adequately adjusted nonrandomized comparative studies of rehabilitation programs reporting performance-based, patient-reported, or healthcare utilization outcomes. Three researchers extracted study data and assessed risk of bias, verified by an independent researcher. The team assessed strength of evidence. Evidence from 53 studies randomized controlled trials suggests that various rehabilitation programs after total knee arthroplasty may lead to comparable improvements in pain, range of motion, and activities of daily living. Rehabilitation in the acute phase may lead to increased strength but result in similar strength when delivered in the postacute phase. No studies reported evidence of risk of harms due to rehabilitation delivered in the acute period after total knee arthroplasty; risk of harms among various postacute rehabilitation programs seems comparable. All findings were of low strength of evidence. Evaluation of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty needs a systematic overhaul to sufficiently guide future practice or research including the use of standardized intervention components and core outcomes.

Prehabilitation for Total Knee or Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: We sought to systematically review the evidence on the benefits and harms of prehabilitation interventions for patients who are scheduled to undergo elective, unilateral total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty surgery for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis. We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1, 2005, through May 3, 2021. We selected for inclusion randomized controlled trials and adequately adjusted nonrandomized comparative studies of prehabilitation programs reporting performance-based, patient-reported, or healthcare utilization outcomes. Three researchers extracted study data and assessed risk of bias, verified by an independent researcher. Experts in rehabilitation content and complex interventions independently coded rehabilitation interventions. The team assessed strength of evidence. While large heterogeneity across evaluated prehabilitation programs limited strong conclusions, evidence from 13 total knee arthroplasty randomized controlled trials suggest that prehabilitation may result in increased strength and reduced length of stay and may not lead to increased harms but may be comparable in terms of pain, range of motion, and activities of daily living (all low strength of evidence). There was no evidence or insufficient evidence for all other outcomes after total knee arthroplasty. Although there were six total hip arthroplasty randomized controlled trials, there was no evidence or insufficient evidence for all total hip arthroplasty outcomes.

Rehabilitation for Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: We sought to determine the comparative benefits and harms of rehabilitation interventions for patients who have undergone elective, unilateral THA surgery for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis. We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1, 2005, through May 3, 2021. We included randomized controlled trials and adequately adjusted nonrandomized comparative studies of rehabilitation programs reporting performance-based, patient-reported, or healthcare utilization outcomes. Three researchers extracted study data and assessed risk of bias, verified by an independent researcher. Experts in rehabilitation content and complex interventions independently coded rehabilitation interventions. The team assessed strength of evidence. Large heterogeneity across evaluated rehabilitation programs limited conclusions. Evidence from 15 studies suggests that diverse rehabilitation programs may not differ in terms of risk of harm or outcomes of pain, strength, activities of daily living, or quality of life (all low strength of evidence). Evidence is insufficient for other outcomes. In conclusion, no differences in outcomes were found between different rehabilitation programs after THA. Further evidence is needed to inform decisions on what attributes of rehabilitation programs are most effective for various outcomes.

What should a toolkit to aid the delivery of therapeutic exercise for hip and knee osteoarthritis look like? Qualitative analysis of an international survey of 318 researchers, clinicians, and consumers by the OARSI Rehabilitation Discussion Group.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify important components of, and practical resources relevant for inclusion in, a toolkit to aid exercise delivery for people with hip/knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: An online international multi-disciplinary survey was conducted across 43 countries (139 clinicians, 44 people with hip/knee osteoarthritis and 135 osteoarthritis researchers). Participants were presented with the seeding statement 'Practical resources to aid the implementation of exercise for people with hip/knee osteoarthritis should…' and asked to provide up to 10 open text responses. Responses underwent refinement and qualitative content analysis to create domains and categories. RESULTS: Refinement of 551 open text responses yielded 72 unique statements relevant for analysis. Statements were organised into nine broad domains, suggesting that resources to aid exercise delivery should: (1) be easily accessible; (2) be of high quality; (3) be developed by, and for, stakeholders; (4) include different ways of delivering information; (5) include different types of resources to support exercise and non-exercise components of self-management; (6) include resources on recommended exercises and how to perform/progress them; (7) include tools to support motivation and track progress; (8) include resources to enable tailoring of the programme to the individual and; (9) facilitate access to professional and peer support. CONCLUSION: Our findings identified important components of, and practical resources to include within, a toolkit to aid delivery of exercise for people with hip/knee osteoarthritis. These findings have implications for exercise providers and lay the foundation for the development of a toolkit to help ensure exercise provision aligns with current international recommendations.

Preventing Osteoarthritis After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: An Osteoarthritis Action Alliance Consensus Statement.

After an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, people need secondary prevention strategies to identify osteoarthritis at its earliest stages so that interventions can be implemented to halt or slow the progression toward its long-term burden. The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance formed an interdisciplinary Secondary Prevention Task Group to develop a consensus on recommendations to provide clinicians with secondary prevention strategies that are intended to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a person has an ACL injury. The group achieved consensus on 15 out of 16 recommendations that address patient education, exercise and rehabilitation, psychological skills training, graded-exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral counseling (lacked consensus), outcomes to monitor, secondary injury prevention, system-level social support, leveraging technology, and coordinated care models. We hope this statement raises awareness among clinicians and researchers on the importance of taking steps to mitigate the risk of osteoarthritis after an ACL injury.

Evidence Review for Preventing Osteoarthritis After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: An Osteoarthritis Action Alliance Consensus Statement.

CONTEXT: The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance formed a secondary prevention task group to develop a consensus on secondary prevention recommendations to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a knee injury. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to provide clinicians with secondary prevention recommendations that are intended to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a person has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Specifically, this manuscript describes our methods, literature reviews, and dissenting opinions to elaborate on the rationale for our recommendations and to identify critical gaps. DESIGN: Consensus process. SETTING: Virtual video conference calls and online voting. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: The Secondary Prevention Task Group consisted of 29 members from various clinical backgrounds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The group initially convened online in August 2020 to discuss the target population, goals, and key topics. After a second call, the task group divided into 9 subgroups to draft the recommendations and supportive text for crucial content areas. Twenty-one members completed 2 rounds of voting and revising the recommendations and supportive text between February and April 2021. A virtual meeting was held to review the wording of the recommendations and obtain final votes. We defined consensus as >80% of voting members supporting a proposed recommendation. RESULTS: The group achieved consensus on 15 of 16 recommendations. The recommendations address patient education, exercise and rehabilitation, psychological skills training, graded-exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral counseling (lacked consensus), outcomes to monitor, secondary injury prevention, system-level social support, leveraging technology, and coordinated care models. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus statement reflects information synthesized from an interdisciplinary group of experts based on the best available evidence from the literature or personal experience. We hope this document raises awareness among clinicians and researchers to take steps to mitigate the risk of osteoarthritis after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet, and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop initial American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines on the use of exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional interventions in conjunction with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as part of an integrative management approach for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: An interprofessional guideline development group constructed clinically relevant Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) questions. A literature review team then completed a systematic literature review and applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to rate the certainty of evidence. An interprofessional Voting Panel (n = 20 participants) that included 3 individuals with RA achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. RESULTS: The Voting Panel achieved consensus on 28 recommendations for the use of integrative interventions in conjunction with DMARDs for the management of RA. Consistent engagement in exercise received a strong recommendation. Of 27 conditional recommendations, 4 pertained to exercise, 13 to rehabilitation, 3 to diet, and 7 to additional integrative interventions. These recommendations are specific to RA management, recognizing that other medical indications and general health benefits may exist for many of these interventions. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides initial ACR recommendations on integrative interventions for the management of RA to accompany DMARD treatments. The broad range of interventions included in these recommendations illustrates the importance of an interprofessional, team-based approach to RA management. The conditional nature of most recommendations requires clinicians to engage persons with RA in shared decision-making when applying these recommendations.

2022 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet, and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop initial American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines on the use of exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and additional interventions in conjunction with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as part of an integrative management approach for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: An interprofessional guideline development group constructed clinically relevant Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) questions. A literature review team then completed a systematic literature review and applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to rate the certainty of evidence. An interprofessional Voting Panel (n = 20 participants) that included 3 individuals with RA achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. RESULTS: The Voting Panel achieved consensus on 28 recommendations for the use of integrative interventions in conjunction with DMARDs for the management of RA. Consistent engagement in exercise received a strong recommendation. Of 27 conditional recommendations, 4 pertained to exercise, 13 to rehabilitation, 3 to diet, and 7 to additional integrative interventions. These recommendations are specific to RA management, recognizing that other medical indications and general health benefits may exist for many of these interventions. CONCLUSION: This guideline provides initial ACR recommendations on integrative interventions for the management of RA to accompany DMARD treatments. The broad range of interventions included in these recommendations illustrates the importance of an interprofessional, team-based approach to RA management. The conditional nature of most recommendations requires clinicians to engage persons with RA in shared decision-making when applying these recommendations.