Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Older Persons With Knee Pain (Knee Pain and tDCS): Randomized Pilot Study

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Knee Osteoarthritis

In brief

The purpose of this research is to study the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on clinical pain, mobility disability, and pain sensitivity to gain a better understanding of the factors that cause pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, people from different ethnic and racial groups may experience OA pain differently which is why the focus will be on older Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites. It is important to find a reason for such difference so that a better treatment can be found for all OA patients. In addition, the research study will examine if there is any ethnic differences in pain and mobility disability. The investigator hypothesize that Asian Americans will report greater pain and mobility disability than non-Hispanic whites, and that active tDCS will result in improvement in pain and disability compared to sham tDCS.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02512393

Run by

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

People needed

40

Starts

2015-11-01

Expected to finish

2016-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-07-11

Who can join

Age: 45 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• they have self-reported unilateral or bilateral knee OA pain according to American College of Rheumatology criteria
• they can understand, speak and read English
• they are able to walk for 6-minutes
• they are willing to be randomized to either the intervention or control group
• they are available for five consecutive daily sessions and for a follow-up phone interview each week for three weeks post-stimulation sessions
• they have no plan to change medication regimens for pain throughout the trial
• they are willing and able to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• knee replacement or non-arthroscopic surgery to the affected knee
• serious medical illness, such as uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., Systolic Blood Pressure/Diastolic Blood Pressure of ≥ 150/95), congestive heart failure, pacemaker, or history of acute myocardial infarction
• peripheral neuropathy
• systemic rheumatic disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and fibromyalgia
• alcohol/substance abuse
• cognitive impairment (i.e., Mini-Mental Status Exam score ≤ 23)
• history of brain surgery, tumor, seizure, stroke, or intracranial metal implantation
• pregnancy or lactation for females
• hospitalization within the preceding year due to psychiatric illness

Where it is running

• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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