Are you over 50 years old and suffering with chronic knee pain?

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Are you over 50 years old and suffering with chronic knee pain?

Sign up to participate in the IMPACT (Internet Mediated Physiotherapy And pain Coping skills Training) Study.

The IMPACT trial is evaluating different treatments, delivered over the internet, that aim to reduce pain and improve function. This includes online educational handouts, an exercise program delivered by a physiotherapist via Skype and an online pain coping skills training. Cathy Derham, of Clifton Hill Physiotherapy, is one of the therapists trained in delivering the online intervention that combines Pain Coping Skills Training and physiotherapy-guided exercise.

Who can participate?

We are looking for people 50 years and over with persistent knee pain. As this study is being conducted over the internet, you could be living anywhere in Australia, metro or rural, as long as you have a reliable broadband internet connection at home. 
Persistent knee pain in people over 50 is most likely due to underlying knee osteoarthritis and you may, or may not, have been told you have this condition. That is fine as you are able to participate in the study if you:

  • Are aged 50 years or over.
  • Have had pain in your knee for more than 3 months and for most days of the past month.
  • Are able to commit approximately 6 months to the study and willing to do regular home exercises and pain coping skills training practice online if allocated to this group.
  • Have an active e-mail account and home broadband access to the internet.
  • Are not currently receiving physical treatment for your knee.
  • Do not have systemic arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Are not on a waiting list for knee surgery or joint replacement surgery, or have had a joint replacement on your painful side.

To register your interest in participating in this study go to the following link:

http://chesm.unimelb.edu.au/volunteer/impact/impact.html

This study has approval by the University Ethics Committee, HREC No. 1339459.2,
and is being run by the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne.

About Cathy Derham: B Physio (Hons) M Physio (Sports Physio)

Cathy is an experienced musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with a Masters in
Sports Physiotherapy. She has worked with multiple professional sporting
teams and Olympic teams and is a Clinical Pilates instructor.