Knee Osteoarthritis - Factors That Influence Physiotherapy Interventions
Knee Osteoarthritis - Factors That Influence Physiotherapy Interventions
This course includes
The instructors
Overview
This online course explores the clinical practice patterns of Canadian physiotherapists treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). Based on a national cross-sectional survey underpinned by the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework, this session addresses the knowledge gap regarding how closely current physiotherapy care aligns with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. The presentation breaks down the demographics of treating therapists, the core interventions they recommend, and the specific factors that influence their clinical decision-making.
Learning Objectives
In this course, we will:
- Identify the demographic and professional characteristics of physiotherapists treating knee osteoarthritis in Canada.
- Describe the core, evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions for managing knee OA, including education, strengthening, aerobic exercise, and weight management.
- Analyze the factors, such as employment settings (private practice vs. hospital) and additional OA specific training that influence a physiotherapist's choice of interventions.
- Recognize the complexities associated with weight management discussions in clinical practice, including the impact of weight bias, comorbidities, and systemic factors on patient care.
Audience
This course is designed for licensed physiotherapists, physiotherapy students, and allied healthcare professionals who assess and/or treat individuals living with osteoarthritis, especially those interested in aligning their practice with evidence-based clinical guidelines.
Why This Course Matters
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis globally. In Canada alone, approximately 15% of the population currently lives with some form of OA, a number projected to rise to nearly 26% by 2040. This carries a massive economic burden and a profound personal cost to patients, including pain, mobility reduction, and decreased quality of life.
While clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend education, exercise, and weight management as foundational treatments, this research highlights a critical practice gap: although Canadian physiotherapists excel at providing education and local strengthening, aerobic exercise and weight management advice are significantly under-utilized. Understanding these gaps, as well as the underlying biases and systemic barriers that contribute to them, is essential for clinicians striving to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care that improves patient outcomes.
About the Presenter
Brenda Tittlemier is a physiotherapist and graduate student at the University of Manitoba, where she completed her master's degree in 2019. Living and working on Treaty One Land, her research focuses on the intersection of evidence-based practice and physiotherapy. Her master's project, published in Physiotherapy Canada, investigates the clinical practices of Canadian physiotherapists treating knee OA, with a specific interest in knowledge translation, the Knowledge to Action framework, and improving clinical outcomes for patients living with OA.
The instructors
Material included in this course
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Course Materials
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Welcome
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Framework and Methods
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Results and Interventions
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Clinical Implications
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Questions
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Summary and Key Insights
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Knowledge Check
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Feedback
Patient education included in this course
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Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis
Is a certificate of completion included with this course?
Once you have completed the course, a certificate of completion (including learning hours and course information) will be generated. You can download this certificate at any time. To learn more about course certificates on Embodia please visit this guide.
This can be used for continuing education credits, depending on your professional college or association. If this course has been approved for CEUs in specific jurisdictions, it will be noted on the course page and CEU information may be added to your course certificate. Please read this guide for more information.
This course has patient education. Can I share it with my patients?
Yes, patient education included in courses or resource packages on Embodia can be shared directly through the Embodia platform. A Tier 2 or 3 Membership is required to share education. These memberships include a range of other features. You can learn about patient education on Embodia here, and about memberships on Embodia here.
I'm a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). What are the discounts available to CPA Members on Embodia?
As part of our partnership with the CPA, we offer its members discounts on courses and Embodia Memberships. Learn more about the partnership on this page.
In order for the discount to be applied, you first need to authenticate your CPA membership. This is an important step as this is how Embodia 'knows' that you are a CPA member.
To authenticate as a CPA member, you need to sign in the CPA portal on this page, sign in to your CPA account, and then click the button on the page.
Please note that your email address on your CPA account must match your email address on Embodia. If needed, you can update your information on Embodia as outlined in this guide.
