A Wodonga physiotherapist is contributing to an interstate study testing different methods of treatment for people who live with painful knee osteoarthritis.
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Susan Stokes works at Flex Out Physiotherapy in Wodonga and is seeking participants for the study, co-ordinated by The Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine at The University of Melbourne.
"We need 300 people all up across the sites, and there may be some areas where there is more interest," she said.
"They wanted to include regional sites; locally there is also Wangaratta and Benalla.
"People need to be over 45 and have had knee pain for over three months that is affecting their daily activities.
"What they need to be willing to do is participate in the study for six months.
"That involves three months where they have five free appointments with me, and everyone gets an individualised strengthening program and activity program."
Ms Stokes hoped the PEAK study would bring more insight into the two treatment methods being tested.
"We have one in five people over 45 who have some form of OA, and research shows in regional areas like this, it's actually higher," she said.
"The whole point of the study is improving how we treat this condition, considering two million people Australia-wide have it, and in another decade it will be three million.
"There's heaps of research that shows exercise is the most effective conservative treatment.
"Clinical guidelines from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners say 'do all this first, then if it doesn't work see a surgeon about whether a knee replacement is required'.
"Because the younger you are when you have a knee replacement, the more likely you'll need to have it done again."
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Ms Stokes enjoys seeing evidence put into practise, having collaborated on research before with La Trobe.
"Our bodies try and find the easy way to move, which can eventually cause things to get weaker and make things worse in the long run," she said.
"A lot of what we do is about helping people to help themselves.
"Exercise never makes anyone worse in the long-run."
Those who are interested can find out if they're eligible to participate at www.peakstudy.com.au.
