The University receives funding to investigate a new treatment for knee osteoarthritis

Dr Stephen Preece, Director of the Centre for Health Sciences Research at the University of Salford, developed Cognitive Muscular Therapy (CMT), the new physiotherapy treatment which combines psychologically informed practice with muscle biofeedback training.

CMT aims to reduce muscle overactivity, minimise mechanical loading on the knee during daily activities and change beliefs related to knee osteoarthritis pain.

The treatment, which was developed through an NHS-funded research study at the University of Salford, is published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 

Patients reported that the intervention allowed them to understand and challenge the way they move and react to pain.  One participant described the intervention as “genuinely life changing” as it had had both a psychological and physical impact and had resulted in her feeling “more energised.”

Dr Preece said: “In our previous pilot study, we delivered the CMT treatment to 11 patients with knee osteoarthritis and observed large improvements in pain.

“I am now keen to understand whether we can train NHS physiotherapists to deliver our new treatment and to understand if we can reduce pain in people who do not benefit from conventional physiotherapy”.

You can find out more about the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

Find out more about CMT.

Physiotherapists interested in learning more about the CPD course can sign up to the mailing list.