Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences

How people walk

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UQ researchers are currently looking for healthy male volunteers (without knee pain) who are aged between 45 and 75 years, and meet specific eligibility criteria to participate in a study.

The research aims to understand if people with kneecap arthritis or pain walk differently from those without painful knees, and if shoes influence movement and pain.

If eligible, participants will be asked to attend a one-off laboratory session at The University of Queensland, St. Lucia campus. Participants will be asked to: (1) complete questionnaires related to their knee and physical activity level; (2) perform a weight-bearing lunge test to measure ankle range of motion; (3) walk on a level and declined treadmill; and (4) perform submaximal and maximal calf contractions.

The researchers hope the outcomes from this study will help guide future treatment strategies aimed at reducing pain, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life in people with kneecap arthritis.

Eligibility 

Seeking male volunteers (45-75 years) who can understand written and spoken English, are able to perform the testing procedures, and meet specific eligibility criteria.

Volunteers will be excluded if they have any of the following:

  • lower-limb pain or injury in the last 12 months;
  • history of lower limb surgery involving a major reconstructive procedure (e.g., arthroplasty and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction); and,
  • neurological or systemic arthritis conditions.

Participant benefits

Participants will receive a $20 gift voucher and be provided parking on campus to facilitate their attendance in the laboratory for data collection.

Register your interest 

To register your interest, click on the button below. 

Register your interest

This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No.2022/HE002285]