June 28, 2022

In 2020, Dr. Kirsten Barton, MD, PhD, CSEP-CEP, was awarded a CSEP Seed grant to support the development of a free-for-user, evidence-informed web based platform for individuals living with mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA). Following the support of this seed grant, Dr. Barton was able to leverage this work supported by CSEP to secure over $180,000 in grant funding for Joint Management and the TEAM Clinical Trial (The Technology, Exercise Programming, and Activity Prescription for Enhanced Mobility Study).

The motivation for developing the Joint Management website resource was to provide patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) with a free, online resource on self-management and exercise to empower them to take an active role in managing their symptoms and enhancing their mobility.

The problem

  • Almost half of individuals with knee or hip OA referred for joint arthroplasty are deemed non-operative, most commonly because they have not exhausted appropriate non-operative treatments

  • Given the volume of referrals to our regional joint assessment program in London, 20% of patients with mild or moderate OA (~15-20 referrals a day) are unable to be assessed in-person and are redirected to community resources.

The proposed solution

  • Joint Management provides the patient with an OA road map to understand their optimal pathway, patient education on bone and joint health, tips on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle, exercise programming to stay active, advice on other adjunct therapies, and offer tele-rehabilitation for those who want more tailored support

JM platform themes

Navigating the OA roadmap

Audio clips and videos giving users the option to view information in a format that best suits their preferences

“Bite sized” facts and dispelling OA myths in the “Did you know?” sections throughout the website

Connect patients with a physiotherapist with experience in OA to further support managing their OA

Sample workouts and exercise log sheets developed to allow the patients to progress

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