Understanding how walking affects the development of knee osteoarthritis
Official title: Discovering the Mechanisms Linking Gait to Osteoarthritis Onset and Progression
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11049335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the way you walk might affect your chances of developing knee osteoarthritis, especially if you've had a knee injury, and it hopes to find ways to improve walking therapy to help prevent this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | January 20, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $644,152 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR083952-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young individuals who have experienced knee injuries and are at high risk for developing knee osteoarthritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had knee injuries or those who are not at risk for knee osteoarthritis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between walking patterns and the onset of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in individuals who are at high risk, particularly after knee injuries. It aims to identify how abnormal loading during walking can lead to changes in the cartilage of the knee joint, which may contribute to the development of KOA. By establishing a mechanistic pathway, the study seeks to enhance precision gait rehabilitation techniques that could help prevent KOA. Patients may be involved in assessments of their walking biomechanics to better understand these connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new interventions that prevent knee osteoarthritis in at-risk individuals, improving their long-term joint health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the biomechanics of gait and its impact on joint health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pietrosimone, Brian — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pietrosimone, Brian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How walking patterns after knee injury affect knee cartilage and arthritis risk
This project tests whether certain walking patterns after knee injury harm knee cartilage in young people at risk for knee osteoarthritis.
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This grant asks researchers to find early, invisible clues of osteoarthritis subtypes so we can target treatments before joints are damaged.
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Movement-Enhanced Walking Training to Improve Balance After Stroke
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.