Let's Stop OA: Development and feasibility testing of an intervention to manage knee osteoarthritis risk factors after anterior cruciate ligament injury

Fifty percent of people who injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) in 6-10 years, even if the ACL is surgically reconstructed. Less known by the public, however, are the available ways to reduce the risk of developing knee OA after ACL injury. These include staying active, preventing another knee injury and keeping a healthy weight. Recovery from an injury represents a teachable moment for people to learn about and start practising skills to prevent knee OA. In this project, we aim to develop a new self-management program specifically designed for people to learn about ways to decrease knee OA risk after an ACL injury. Our research questions are: 1) What do people know and do 2 to 3 years after ACL injury to decrease the risk of OA? 2) What are the experiences of people with knee OA symptoms 6 to 10 years after an injury? 3) What makes a self-management program useful, engaging and timely for the target population? 4) Is this program feasible for real-world testing in the community? To answer these questions, we will do a survey of Canadians who recently recovered from an ACL injury to find out what they know and have done to reduce OA risk. We will also interview patients who have developed knee OA about their experiences since the first injury. The results will be used to develop a 'draft' program, which will be shared with 30 to 35 health professionals and patients for feedback. We will then refine the program and launch a pilot test to confirm that the program is feasible for a full-scale testing in the community. This project represents an important step to prevent knee OA. Not only will it add new knowledge to benefit a population that has a high risk for future OA, our research plan will also ensure success in the future testing and real-world use of the self-management program. This will contribute to shortening the well-known "17-year delay" between scientific discovery and tangible benefits for patients.