Exercise and diet for people with hip osteoarthritis – the ECHO studyWhat is the purpose of the study?
The purpose of this research is to find out whether people with hip osteoarthritis find a specially-designed diet and exercise program manageable, helpful and acceptable.
Background information
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a common condition in adults. It often causes joint pain and difficulty with activities and reduces quality of life. It is thought that a combination of exercise and weight loss can help to reduce pain and improve function and general well-being in people with hip osteoarthritis while being safe on joints. The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of how people with hip osteoarthritis find the experience of carrying out a home-based exercise and diet program over 6 months. A small group of people will see a dietitian and a physiotherapist via videoconference 6 times over 6 months. The dietitian will supervise them to carry out a very low energy/ketogenic diet which includes meal replacements. The Optifast meal replacements will be provided. The study participants will also be asked to carry out an exercise program at home and will be provided exercise equipment (exercise bands and a cuff weight).
The findings of this study will help to guide research and treatment for osteoarthritis in the future.
Who can take part?
You can participate in the study if you:
- are aged over 50 years
- have had pain in your hip for three months or longer and on most days in the last month
- have hip pain while walking
- are willing to attend 6 consultations with a dietitian and 6 consultations with a physiotherapist via video-conference (over the internet)
- are willing to undertake a very low energy/ketogenic diet with meal replacements
- are willing to attend Monash University in Clayton for a DEXA scan at the beginning and 6 months later
- can commit to participating in the study for 6 months.
There are several reasons that this study may not be suitable for you. These include:
- have already had a hip joint replacement on the painful hip side
- are planning any back or leg surgery within the in the next 12 months or have had this type of surgery in the previous 6 months
- have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory arthritis
- have Type 1 diabetes or take insulin for Type 2 diabetes
- have had a stroke or cardiac event in the last 6 months
What will I be asked to do?Screening and enrolling
The study involves three steps to confirm that the study is suitable for you: (1) online screening, which you are doing now, (2) a telephone call with the researchers, (3) an x-ray to check for signs of osteoarthritis. If you have had a hip x-ray in the past year and are able to provide it to the researchers you will not need to have another one. If you pass screening, you will be invited to take part in this 6-month study.
At the beginning of the study and 6 months later you will be asked to attend the BASE facility at Monash University in Clayton for a DEXA scan to measure body composition. You will also be asked to complete a questionnaire at the start and 3 and 6 months later.
Diet and exercise program
This program includes 6 consultations over the internet with a physiotherapist and 6 consultations over the internet with a dietitian who has specialist knowledge of hip OA and the Very Low Calorie/ketogenic diet.
All consultations will take approximately 30-45 minutes and will be spread over the first 6 months. You will be asked to carry out strengthening exercises for your hip 3 times per week at home.
The weight loss program is a Very Low Calorie, low-fat and low-carbohydrate diet that requires you to initially replace two meals per day with meal replacement products (shake, bar or soup) and prepare a low-carbohydrate, low-fat meal for the third meal of the day.
Participants are encouraged to aim to lose at least 10% of their body weight within 6 months. The program is delivered with support from the dietitians and overseen by medical specialists. The length of time that you replace your meals will depend upon your weight loss goals and your rate of weight loss. Long term weight maintenance strategies and tips for coping with the triggers for unhealthy food choices will be addressed during the program to help people to maintain their weight loss after their dietitian support finishes.
Telephone interviews
6 months after you start in the study, we will invite you for a 30-45 minute telephone interview with the research team. This will be to discuss your experience and opinions of the diet and exercise program.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
This study aims to improve healthcare knowledge. It may improve future treatment of people with hip osteoarthritis. You may find that you lose weight and that the exercise program helps with your pain and ability to do your daily activities. However, the study may not directly benefit you. You will help us understand the most helpful and least useful parts of the program in which you participated. This will help us design an optimal diet and exercise program for people with hip osteoarthritis in the future.
What costs are being covered by the study?
The 6 physiotherapy appointments and 6 dietitian appointments will be provided at no cost to you. The hip x-ray (if needed) and the DEXA scan at the beginning and at 6 months will be paid for by the study.You will be provided with Optifast meal replacements while you are on the very low energy/ketogenic diet. You will be able to keep the exercise equipment at the end of the study.
Further information
The study information sheet can be viewed by clicking
here. Alternatively, you can wait and read the full information sheet only if the screening questions indicate that this study may be suitable for you.Any personal and sensitive health information collected from you in this form and the ECHO study screening process will be treated as confidential, and is collected by the University of Melbourne for the sole purposes of assessing your eligibility for the ECHO research study being conducted by the University of Melbourne.
To see if you're eligible to participate, please answer the questions below. This will take approximately 10-15 minutes of your time.