Publications by authors named "Melanie A Holden"

Objectives: To explore physiotherapists' experiences and perceived acceptability of delivering a bracing intervention for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the 'PROvision of braces for Patients with knee OA' (PROP OA) randomised controlled trial.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews with consenting physiotherapists who received the PROP OA training programme and delivered the knee bracing intervention (advice, information and exercise instruction plus knee brace matched to patients' clinical and radiographic presentation and with adherence support). Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

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Article Synopsis
  • Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis combines and analyzes original data from various studies to identify how treatment effects vary among individuals, often using a two-stage statistical modeling process.
  • A new two-stage multivariate approach addresses challenges with continuous outcomes by analyzing non-linear interactions and multiple time-points, accommodating missing outcome data effectively.
  • This method was illustrated in a study on exercise interventions for osteoarthritis, revealing non-linear relationships and improved precision when analyzing all time-points together.
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Objective: Explore the experiences of people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who received a very low energy diet (VLED) and exercise program from a physiotherapist.

Methods: Mixed methods study involving questionnaires (n = 42) and semistructured interviews (n = 22) with randomized control trial participants with knee OA who had received a 6-month physiotherapist-delivered VLED weight loss and exercise intervention. Questionnaires measured participant satisfaction and perceptions about physiotherapist's skills/knowledge in delivery of the dietary intervention (measured on 5-7 point Likert scales).

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Objectives: To determine if physiotherapists can deliver a clinically effective very low energy diet (VLED) supplementary to exercise in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and overweight or obesity.

Methods: 88 participants with knee OA and body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m were randomised to either intervention (n=42: VLED including two daily meal replacement products supplementary to control) or control (n=46: exercise). Both interventions were delivered by unblinded physiotherapists via six videoconference sessions over 6 months.

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Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the commonest form of chronic joint pain, which patients often self-manage before seeking healthcare advice. Patients frequently seek advice from community pharmacies, and a recent policy has recommended integrating community pharmacies into long-term condition pathways. This study explored community pharmacy teams' (CPs) and other healthcare professionals' (HCPs) views on community pharmacies providing an extended role for osteoarthritis management, identifying potential barriers and facilitators to this.

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Background: Many international clinical guidelines recommend therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis. We aimed to identify individual patient-level moderators of the effect of therapeutic exercise for reducing pain and improving physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, or both.

Methods: We did a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing therapeutic exercise with non-exercise controls in people with knee osteoathritis, hip osteoarthritis, or both.

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Background: Osteoarthritis is a common, painful and disabling long-term condition. Delivery of high-quality guideline-informed osteoarthritis care that successfully promotes and maintains supported self-management is imperative. However, osteoarthritis care remains inconsistent, including under use of core non-pharmacological approaches of education, exercise and weight loss.

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Objectives: Evidence for the comparative cost-effectiveness of intra-articular corticosteroid injection in people with hip osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of best current treatment (BCT), comprising advice and education, with BCT plus a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 4 ml 1% lidocaine hydrochloride (BCT+US-T).

Methods: A trial-based cost-utility analysis of BCT+US-T compared with BCT was undertaken over 6 months.

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Objectives: This study aimed to (1) develop a new measure of adherence to exercise for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain (Adherence To Exercise for Musculoskeletal Pain Tool: ATEMPT) based on previously conceptualised domains of exercise adherence, (2) report the content and structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and measurement error for the ATEMPT outcome measure in patients managed with exercise for MSK pain.

Methods: ATEMPT was created using statements describing adherence generated by patients, physiotherapists and researchers, with content validity established. Baseline and retest questionnaires were distributed to patients recommended exercise for MSK pain in 11 National Health Service physiotherapy clinics.

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Objectives: The Hip Injection Trial (HIT) compared the effectiveness of adding a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of either corticosteroid and local anaesthetic or local anaesthetic alone to advice and education among people with hip osteoarthritis (OA). This nested qualitative study explored participants' experiences of living with hip OA and of the trial treatment they received.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with a purposeful sample of trial participants after a 2-month trial follow-up.

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Objectives: To evaluate mediating factors for the effect of therapeutic exercise on pain and physical function in people with knee/hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: For Subgrouping and TargetEd Exercise pRogrammes for knee and hip OsteoArthritis (STEER OA), individual participant data (IPD) were sought from all published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing therapeutic exercise to non-exercise controls in people with knee/hip OA. Using the Counterfactual framework, the effect of the exercise intervention and the percentage mediated through each potential mediator (muscle strength, proprioception and range of motion (ROM)) for knee OA and muscle strength for hip OA were determined.

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Objective: To investigate whether knee osteoarthritis (OA) related pain and function can be improved by offering enhanced physical therapist-led exercise interventions.

Design: Three-arm prospectively designed pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Setting: General practices and National Health Service physical therapy services in England.

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Background: Exercise is recommended for all people with osteoarthritis. However, these recommendations are based on randomised clinical trials including people with an average age between 60 and 70 years, and these findings cannot reliably be generalised to people aged 80 years or older. Rapid loss of muscle occurs after 70 years of age, and older people are more likely to also have other health conditions that contribute to difficulties with daily activities and impact on their response to exercise.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to create a toolkit to enhance exercise delivery for individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis by identifying key components and practical resources.
  • An international survey involving clinicians, patients, and researchers collected input on what practical resources are necessary for effective exercise implementation, resulting in 551 responses analyzed into 72 unique insights.
  • The findings highlighted nine key domains for resource development, including accessibility, quality, customization for individuals, and support mechanisms, laying the groundwork for a toolkit that aligns with global exercise guidelines.
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Background: The concept of adherence to exercise for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is poorly defined and inadequately measured. This study aimed to, (1) conceptualise adherence to exercise therapy for MSK pain, and (2) identify statements most representative of the new conceptualisation that could be developed into items for a new measurement tool.

Methods: Concept mapping methodology was used, which is an integrated mixed methods approach.

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Background: Obesity is associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Weight loss, alongside exercise, is a recommended treatment for individuals with knee OA and overweight/obesity. However, many patients cannot access weight loss specialists such as dietitians.

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Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness of adding a single ultrasound guided intra-articular hip injection of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic to advice and education in adults with hip osteoarthritis.

Design: Pragmatic, three arm, parallel group, single blind, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Two community musculoskeletal services in England.

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Background: Brace effectiveness for knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear and international guidelines offer conflicting recommendations. Our trial will determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of adding knee bracing (matched to patients' clinical and radiographic presentation and with adherence support) to a package of advice, written information and exercise instruction delivered by physiotherapists.

Methods And Analysis: A multicentre, pragmatic, two-parallel group, single-blind, superiority, randomised controlled trial with internal pilot and nested qualitative study.

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Therapeutic exercise is a recommended first-line treatment for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA); however, there is little specific advice or practical resources to guide clinicians in its implementation. As the first in a series of projects by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International Rehabilitation Discussion Group to address this gap, we aim in this narrative review to synthesize current literature informing the implementation of therapeutic exercise for patients with knee and hip OA, focusing on evidence from systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials. Therapeutic exercise is safe for patients with knee and hip OA.

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Objectives: The objective was to the undertake nominal group technique (NGT) to evaluate current exercise adherence measures and isolated domains to develop stakeholder consensus on the domains to include in the measurement of therapeutic exercise adherence for patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

Design: A 1-day NGT workshop was convened. Six exercise adherence measures were presented to the group that were identified in our recent systematic review.

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Questions: What are people's experiences and perceived impact of physiotherapist-led exercise interventions for knee pain attributable to osteoarthritis? What barriers and facilitators to change in exercise and physical activity behaviour exist over time?

Design: A longitudinal qualitative study was undertaken; it involved face-to-face, semi-structured and longitudinal interviews.

Participants: Interviews were undertaken with older adults with knee pain and who had been randomised to one of three physiotherapist-led exercise intervention arms in the Benefits of Effective Exercise for knee Pain (BEEP) trial. Thirty participants were enrolled in this qualitative study, with interviews scheduled at the end of the trial intervention period and 12 months later.

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Background: Although exercise is a core treatment for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), it is currently unknown whether those with additional comorbidities respond differently to exercise than those without. We explored whether comorbidities predict pain and function following an exercise intervention in people with knee OA, and whether they moderate response to: exercise versus no exercise; and enhanced exercise versus usual exercise-based care.

Methods: We undertook analyses of existing data from three randomized controlled trials (RCTs): TOPIK (n = 217), APEX (n = 352) and Benefits of Effective Exercise for knee Pain (BEEP) (n = 514).

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Objective: The Joint Effort Initiative was endorsed by Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) in 2018 as a collaboration between international researchers and clinicians with an interest in the implementation of osteoarthritis management programs (OAMPs). This study aimed to identify and prioritise activities for future work of the Joint Effort Initiative.

Design: A survey was emailed to delegates of the 2018 OARSI World Congress attending a pre-conference workshop or with a known interest in OAMPs (n = 115).

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