Deakin University researchers are looking for teenagers in the region to help with a study into the treatment of knee pain.
One in four adolescents experience pain in their kneecaps and, if left untreated, it can continue into adulthood, leading to reduced physical activity and quality of life.
The trial at Deakin’s 3D Gait Lab at the Waurn Ponds campus will involve an assessment of participants’ gait and biomechanics in two different types of school footwear and a standard athletic shoe.
Participants will then be randomly assigned into groups and asked to wear an allocated school shoe for 12 weeks before returning for further assessment.
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences senior lecturer Dr Jason Bonacci said the trial, part of a study by Deakin PhD student and podiatrist Natalie Mazzella, was investigating whether alternate school shoes could improve knee pain in adolescents.
“We know certain types of footwear can reduce the load on the kneecaps and lessen pain,” he said.
“This study will help us identify whether the right type of school shoe could provide a readily accessible and low-cost treatment.
“Adolescents also tend to play multiple sports and this additional load on their knees is hard to quantify. We’re hoping that by reducing the load on their knees with different school shoes they’re less likely to miss out on sport and other physical activity.”
Researchers are looking for participants, aged 12 to 18 years, who have knee pain.
Recruitment is underway now and will continue until the beginning of term four.
Anyone interested in participating can contact Natalie Mazzella at nmazzella@deakin.edu.au.
