Shared Strides: Community-based, high-throughput biomechanics data collection in knee osteoarthritis

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Osteoarthritis Research
• Community-Based Research

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) research often faces challenges in participant recruitment and engagement.
• High-throughput biomechanics assessments can provide valuable insights into OA.
• Traditional research settings may limit accessibility for OA populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptability of a high-throughput, community-based biomechanics protocol for individuals with knee OA.
• To evaluate the recruitment implications of conducting biomechanics assessments at community sites.
• To compare participant engagement and preferences between on-campus and community-based research locations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted during the Shared Strides Study.
• High-throughput markerless biomechanics data were collected during activities of daily living (ADLs) at community sites.
• Participant acceptability was assessed via a custom questionnaire; recruitment characteristics were compared across sites.

Main Results:

• The community-based biomechanics data collection approach was well-received by participants.
• Community sites showed higher engagement from walk-in and new research participants (40%).
• Familiarity with and proximity to data collection sites influenced research engagement.

Conclusions:

• Integrating markerless motion capture with community-based research enhances participant experience.
• This approach can facilitate larger, more heterogeneous sample sizes in OA biomechanics research.
• Community-based methods may reduce bias and homogeneity in current OA research.