PrEOA Knee

We are trying to evaluate the effect of knee joint injury in youth and young adults 3-15 years post-injury.

Individuals, aged 15-30, who sustained a knee joint injury 3-15 years ago in youth sport AND individuals, aged 15-30, who have never sustained a lower limb injury

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability. OA currently affects about 4.6 million Canadians and it is expected that this number will double in the next thirty years. The most common joint affected by OA is the knee joint. Once an individual has experienced a knee joint injury, it is important that they are monitored and compared to individuals that have not had an injury, as they may hold vital clues that can assist in the early detection and development of treatments aimed at slowing the progression of OA.

Individuals complete testing once a year for three consecutive years. Testing includes: a clinical knee exam; strength testing of leg muscles; functional movement tests that assess agility, balance and biomechanics; body composition, including a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan; a blood test; the 20m shuttle run; and questionnaires regarding attitudes and beliefs associated with injury and sport participation, nutrition and healthcare utilization.