Impact of cane use on bone marrow lesion volume in people with medial knee osteoarthritis (CUBA trial)

Abstract

Background. No effective cure exists for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Low-burden self-management strategies that can slow disease progression are needed. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are a source of knee pain and accelerate cartilage loss. Importantly, they may be responsive to biomechanical off-loading treatments. Objective. The study objective is to investigate whether, in people with medial tibiofemoral OA, daily cane use for 12 weeks reduces the volume of medial tibiofemoral BMLs and improves pain, physical function, and health-related quality of life. Design. This study will be an assessor-masked, 2-arm, parallel-group, multisite randomized controlled trial. Setting. The community will serve..