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TOPS – The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study

TOPS (The Osteoarthritis Prevention Study) is a 48-month study aiming to help researchers discover whether diet and exercise can prevent knee osteoarthritis in women aged 50 years or older.

  • Healthy ageing

Study Purpose/Description

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases in Australia and is more common in women than men. This trial is one of the first prevention clinical trials that could help people reduce their risk of knee osteoarthritis.

The primary aim is to compare the effects of a dietary weight loss, exercise, and weight-loss maintenance to an attention control group in preventing the development of structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) knee OA. Secondary aims will determine the intervention effects on pain, mobility, health-related quality of life, knee joint compressive forces, inflammatory measures, weight loss, exercise self-efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of this intervention.

What’s involved?

The TOPS Study will be conducted over approximately 48 months (4 years). Your involvement in the study will involve 2 screening visits over 2 – 4 weeks and 5 study visits over 48 months, as well as regular diet and exercise or healthy lifestyle classes.

This is a randomised trial. You will be randomised to receive either a 4-year program of regular diet and exercise sessions or a 4-year program of quarterly information sessions, newsletters, and text messages. You will have an equal chance of receiving either the diet and exercise program, or the information sessions.

Participants will receive $20 per year to attend assessments at the research centre.

Want to learn more?

If you are interested and think you might be eligible, you can:

Recruitment criteria

You may be eligible to participate in this study if:

  • Female
  • Aged 50 years or older
  • Overweight
  • Able to travel for the study visits in Sydney. Study visits will occur at Castlereagh Imaging in St Leonards and Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards

Benefits

Participants will receive $20 per year to attend assessments at the research centre.

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

tops.study@sydney.edu.au

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