Physical activity in people with hip or knee osteoarthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Physical activity in people living with hip or knee osteoarthritis
IRAS ID
185665
Contact name
Joan Duda
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, days
Research summary
The present study aims at offering an in-depth understanding of motivational processes underlying physically active and sedentary behaviours in people living with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA). Exercise is a first-line treatment in managing OA symptoms, such as pain and decreased physical function, while being sedentary has been linked to worse physical functioning and poor health outcomes. Despite this evidence, only a small to moderate proportion of this population sustain a sufficiently active lifestyle and this is also the case for patients who have participated in exercise interventions.
A wide array of factors influencing or corresponding to PA in people with lower limb OA has been identified using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The former mainly report non-modifiable (e.g. demographic, disease-related) factors. The latter have been more illustrative in mapping psychosocial determinants of PA behaviour, such as personal beliefs about OA, attitudes towards and experiences of exercise, personal goals and general attitudes, support from health professionals and important others. What is lacking in this work is the link to a theoretical framework to support the conceptualisation and integration of this information to facilitate the development of effective behavioural change interventions. Moreover, the psychosocial mechanisms underlying motivation for being physically active and engaging in sedentary behaviours remain to be better understood.
This study will employ qualitative methods to in-depth explore the motivational processes underlying physically active and sedentary behaviours in people with lower limb OA in the light of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) of human motivation. SDT offers a framework for understanding motivation in the context of its social and physical environment and by linking it to personal meanings of engagement and associated well-being. Thus, in the process of understanding PA and sedentary behaviours, emphasis will be given on the personal experience of OA and OA patients’ personal definitions of well-being and ill-being.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0070
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion