Delaware Physical Exercise and Activity for Knee Osteoarthritis

Participants in the Intervention arm will receive five virtual consultation sessions, delivered by a physical therapist over 12 weeks (at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10) and lasting approximately 45-60 minutes each. Each session will focus on lower extremity strengthening exercises, physical activity (i.e., walking), and education about knee osteoarthritis. Participants will be provided with an exercise manual, tracking log, educational manual, and a step counter. Participants will be prescribed up to 6 exercises (quadriceps, hip abductor/gluteal, hamstrings/gluteal, calf, balance) and daily walking step goals. Progression will be a joint decision by the participant and physical therapist. Education will include information on knee osteoarthritis, managing pain, being active, weight loss, dealing with setbacks, and progressing activity. The physical therapist will also discuss barriers and facilitators to meeting and progressing goals as appropriate.

Participants in the Control arm will receive access to a study-specific website that navigates them to a variety of web-based resources on knee osteoarthritis. Topics for the various resources include an overview of knee osteoarthritis, brief anatomy of the knee and how that is related to pain, different types of arthritis pain and how to manage it, and how to be active with arthritis. Sessions range from 20 - 70+ minutes.