Research Projects

Principal Investigator

Katherine Rudolph, Ph.D., P.T.

Co-Investigator

Tamara King, Ph.D.

Recruiting Subjects? Yes 
Student Research Opportunities? Yes 

Research shows that some people with knee osteoarthritis experience buckling and shifting in the knee. Their knee muscles also contract in a way that stiffens the knee resulting in less shock absorption when they walk and higher knee joint compression. Knee buckling and less shock absorption can cause arthritis to advance more quickly so clinicians need to find ways to help patients move safely, without knee buckling and with movement and muscle activation patterns that can stop or slow the progression of the arthritis.

People who have pain for a long time can have changes in the way they perceive pain and other sensations. Pain that lasts for a long time can also change the way that muscles behave during physical activities. In order to teach people with knee arthritis to move in ways that will reduce pain, improve function and slow disease progression. However the ability to learn new movement patterns is highlyn dependent on accurate sensory perception. Impaired sensory perception in people with knee OA may make them less able to learn ways of moving with traditional rehabilitation techniques.

In this research study we will see how pain from knee arthritis affects movement and muscle activation patterns in adults age 50–80 who have knee pain. We will assess sensory perception, how muscles produce force and the ability to learn new movement patterns. Information from people with no knee pain will be compared to information from people with knee osteoarthritis therefore, we are recruiting individuals both with and without knee pain. The results of the study will help clinicians develop treatment programs that will be most effective in reducing pain, improving function, and slowing arthritis progression in people with long standing knee pain.

If you are interested in learning more about the study please call call Amanda Turner at (207) 221-4214 or visit the website.

Presentations from this work:

1. Rudolph KS, Devine M (DPT '17), Donovitch M (DPT '17). "Quadriceps muscle quickness relates to function in people with knee osteoarthritis". Presented at the APTA Combined Sections Feb 21, 2018, New Orleans, LA
2. Obecny J. (DPT '18) Chiarella C. (DPT '18). Rudolph KS. Broken Escalator Paradigm Applied to Motor Learning in Knee Osteoarthritis. Presented at the 2nd Annual Maine APTA Winter Symposium. Dec 1, 2017, Portland, ME.
3. Turcotte H (COM '18), Rudolph KS. Motor Learning and Adaptation in People with Knee Osteoarthritis and Chronic Pain. Presented at the Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network - 17th Annual Research And Scholarship Forum, May 17, 2018, Biddeford, ME
4. Campbell C (DPT '19), Kristofitz D (DPT '19), Tso D (DPT '19), Rudolph KS. How do People with Chronic Pain from Knee OA Control the Knee during a Motor Learning Task? Presented at the Maine Chapter APTA Winter Symposium and Annual Chapter Meeting: November 30, 2018