The goal of this clinical trial is to determine how strengthening the hamstring muscles affects the knee joint in people living with hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does hamstring strengthening reduce the looseness of the knee joint in HSD/hEDS? * Does hamstring strengthening improve clinical outcomes like pain in people living with HSD/hEDS?
Participants will:
* Attend two exercise classes per week for 12 weeks. * Visit the laboratory every 4-6 weeks for testing.
Reported diagnosis of HSD or hEDS by a physician
Meet the 2017 International Diagnostic Criteria for HSD and hEDS
Clearance to participant in exercise participation, determined using the Get Active Questionnaire
Other acquired or hereditary connective tissue disorder (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, Marfan syndrome, etc.)
Currently experiencing daily knee pain
Prior knee injury or surgery
Intra-articular knee injection in the last 12 months
Single group
Progressive resistance exercise with an emphasis on eccentric hamstring loading.
BehavioralThe exercise intervention consists of a 12-week supervised lower limb strengthening program focused on eccentric hamstring loading. This program is adapted from a lower limb progressive resistance training protocol that was well-tolerated and effective in people with HSD/hEDS. Each exercise session will start with a 10-minute aerobic warm up. This will be followed by the lower limb strengthening exercises, and a 5-minute aerobic cooldown. The lower limb exercises will include forward lunges and seated machine weights (leg press, leg extension, leg curl, calf raise). At weeks 6-11, eccentric hamstring loading will be initiated by utilizing the 2:1 technique of two limbs performing concentric action at once and then a single limb performing the eccentric action in a seated leg curl machine. This is an established eccentric loading protocol for the hamstring muscle group.
Knee Joint Laxity
Anterior knee joint laxity measured in millimeters using a KT-2000 Knee Ligament Arthrometer at 67N, 89N, and 133N of applied force, as well as maximum displacement. Posterior knee joint laxity will be assessed at 67N of applied force. Changes in knee joint laxity at each level of applied force will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Knee Joint Stiffness
Anterior knee joint stiffness calculated from the change in displacement divided by the change in force from 0N to 67N, 67N to 89N, and 89N to 133N. Posterior knee joint stiffness will be calculated between 0N and 67N of force. Changes in stiffness will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Isokinetic eccentric knee flexion strength
Isokinetic eccentric knee flexion strength at 60 degrees per second will be measured using a Biodex Dynamometer. Change in eccentric knee flexion strength will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Isokinetic concentric knee flexion strength
Isokinetic concentric knee flexion strength at 60 degrees per second will be measured using a Biodex dynamometer. Change in concentric knee flexion strength will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Hamstrings:Quadriceps Co-Activation
Co-activation between the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles will be measured using Delsys surface electromyography sensors during dynamometry, the 6-Minute Walk Test, and the stair climb test. Changes in hamstring:quadriceps co-activation will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Acceptability of the Intervention
Participants will be asked open ended questions via an online survey at 12, 18 and 24 weeks after baseline asking about how acceptable they found the exercise program to be.
Adherence and Maintenance of Exercises
Adherence to the exercise program and maintenance of the exercises following completion of the 12 weeks of supervised classes will be assessed using open ended questions via an online survey send to participants at 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
Knee Joint Range of Motion
Knee joint range of motion will be measured in degrees both actively and passively using a goniometer. Changes in range of motion will be assessed from baseline, 4, 8 , 12, 18, and 24 weeks.
Isometric knee flexion and extension strength
Isometric knee flexion and extension strength will be measured using dynamometry at 90 degrees of knee flexion. Changes in isometric flexion and extension strength will be assessed from baseline to 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after baseline.
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