RESEARCH

WORKING TOWARD A PAIN FREE FUTURE

 

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that involves articular cartilage breakdown, loss of joint function with pain, and severe disability.

With millions of people affected globally, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a huge health care burden. Further, knee ligament and cartilage injury in younger populations can result in the development of osteoarthritis over time. Despite successful reconstructive surgery, osteoarthritis may still develop. This situation can severely impact one’s quality of life, employment opportunities, and overall health.

The objective of my research program is to determine changes associated with damage, contribute to the understanding of inflammation development, and provide foundational evidence for care related to delaying osteoarthritis development. By advancing methods of treatment, early osteoarthritis sufferers can effectively carry on with day-to-day activities, as well as avoid more invasive and expensive surgical methods, such as joint replacements.

CURRENT research projects

OSTEOARTHRITIS MANAGEMENT

TEAM Study

  • Novel Uses of Technology for Individuals with Mild to Moderate Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis: The Technology, Exercise Programming, and Activity Prescription for Enhanced Mobility Study (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Funding: Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario Innovation Fund (2021), Western Strategic Support for Tri-Council (CIHR) Success Seed Research Grant (2021), and Lawson Health Research Institute Internal Research Fund (2021)

Joint Management Study

  • Evaluation of Joint Mananagement: An Online Resource for Individuals with Mild to Moderate Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis (Principal Investigator)
  • Funding: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Seed Grant (2020) and Canadian Musculoskeletal Rehab Research Network Pilot Grant (2020)

Online Platforms Study

  • A Systematic Review to Identify and Evaluate the Quality and Effectiveness of Web-Based Platforms for Individuals with Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) or Those Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty or Total Knee Arthroplasty (Principal Investigator)

Joint Effort + GLA:D Study

  • A Comparison Between a Standardized (GLA:DTM Canada) and an Individualized (Joint Effort) Exercise Program on Functional Mobility, Quality of Life, Pain Management, and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients (Co-Investigator)
  • Funding: McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health Encore Catalyst Operating Grant (2017-2019) and the Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network Research Facilitation Fund (2021)

JOINT INJURY

OSKGAR Study

  • Osteoarthritis and Sporting Knee Injury: Genetic Association with Risk Osteoarthritis (OSKGAR) Consortium (Co-Investigator)
  • Funding: University of Oxford 

    Axial Alignment Study 

    • Outcomes After Axial Alignment Correction for Patellofemoral Instability: A Systematic Review (Principal Investigator)

    High Energy Ankle Fracture Dislocations Study

    • High Energy Transyndemostic Ankle Fracture Dislocations: Injury Characteristics, Radiographic Outcomes, and Factors Affecting the Rate of Post-traumatic Arthritis in Logsplitter Injures (Co-Investigator)

    Arthroplasty Research

    Vivametrica Study

    • Application of Wearable Technology and Vivametrica Analytics to Support Outcomes of Knee Total Joint Arthroplasty in Alberta (Principal Co-Investigator)
    • Funding: Alberta Innovates Accelerating Innovations into Care Grant (2017-2019)

    Total Knee Arthroplasty Dissatisfaction Study

    • The Role of Knee Joint Synovitis in Dissatisfied Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients (Co-Principal Investigator)
    • Funding: Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation Carroll A. Laurin Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (2019) and Western University Department of Surgery Resident Research Grant (2019-2020)

    Direct Anterior Approach Complications Study

    • Major Complications in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty with the Direct Anterior Approach: A Study at a High-Volume Ontario Tertiary Care Center (Co-Principal Investigator)

    Tibial Stem Study

    • Assessing the Influence of Body Mass Index, Tibial Component Surface Area, and Tibial Stem Length on Survivorship and Revision Rates in Total Knee Arthroplasty (Principal Investigator)

    Patellar Resurfacing Inflammation Study

    • Understanding the Role of Patellar Resurfacing and Inflammation after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review (Principal Investigator)

    Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Perioperative Pain Management Study

    • Periopertive Pain Management for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Pilot Non-Inferiority Trial (Principal Investigator)
    • Funding: Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society Research Grant (2022) and Physicians’ Services Incorporated Resident Research Grant (2022)

    Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Perioperative Pain Management Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

    • Comparison of Pain Management Modalities After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis (Principal Investigator)
    • Funding: Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society Research Grant (2022)

    Informing Orthopaedic Practice 

    Canadian Orthopaedic Association Leadership Program Study

    • Evaluation of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association Leadership Program (Principal Investigator)
    • Funding: Canadian Orthopaedic Association (2022)

    Canadian Orthopaedic Surgery Parental Leave Study

    • Evaluation of Parental Leave Within Canadian Orthopaedic Surgery: A National Survey (Principal Investigator)

    Canadian Orthopaedic Surgery Program Directors Global Surgery Study

    • Evaluation of Global Surgery Opportunities for Orthopaedic Surgeons and Residents: Canadian Orthopaedic Association Global Surgery (COAGS) Survey for Orthopaedic Program Directors (Co-Principal Investigator)

      Perceptions of Women in Orthopaedic Surgery Study

      • Evaluation of Orthopaedic Surgery Opportunities for Female Medical Students and Perceptions of Women in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Survey (Co-Investigator)

      Orthopaedic Surgery Delphi Study

      • Application of the Delphi Technique for the Development of Guidance for Best Practice in Orthopaedic Surgery Literature (Co-Investigator)

      Research Burnout Study

      • Evaluation of Research Burnout Amoung Medical Students and Residents: A Survey (Principal Investigator)

        INTERESTED IN connecting WITH KRISTEN?

        GET IN TOUCH