Telehealth mindful exercise for knee osteoarthritis (TEMPO)
Official title: Telehealth Exercise and Mindfulness of Pain in knee Osteoarthritis (TEMPO): A digital Feasibility Study
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11132712 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A 10-week group telehealth program combining mindfulness with structured exercise for adults with knee osteoarthritis to help reduce pain and fear of activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $126,878 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AR083153-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132712 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with knee osteoarthritis who experience activity-related pain and can use telehealth and wearable devices are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without knee osteoarthritis, those unable to participate in guided exercise, or those without reliable internet or device access are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would join a 10-week, group-based program delivered over telehealth that blends mindfulness techniques with guided exercise designed for knee osteoarthritis. In this randomized trial, about 62 adults will be assigned either to the mindful-exercise group or to an exercise-only group. All recruitment, sessions, and outcomes are handled remotely using digital tools like video calls, online surveys, and wearable activity sensors. The study looks at whether adding mindfulness changes pain, activity levels, and beliefs about movement compared with exercise alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lessen pain and fear-related avoidance while making exercise-based care more accessible via telehealth.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show mindfulness and exercise can help chronic pain, but combining them in a group telehealth format for knee osteoarthritis is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Deepak — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Deepak
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Telehealth Mindful Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis (TEMPO)
A 10-week, at-home telehealth program blends mindfulness with exercise to help adults with knee osteoarthritis manage pain and improve function.
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Using telehealth to combine exercise and mindfulness for knee osteoarthritis pain management
This study is looking at a new online program that mixes mindful exercises with regular workouts to help people with knee osteoarthritis manage their chronic pain and overcome any negative thoughts about exercising, and it's designed for anyone who wants to improve their movement and well-being from the comfort of home
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Using home-based brain stimulation and meditation to manage knee pain in older adults
This study is looking at whether using a gentle brain stimulation technique at home, along with mindfulness meditation, can help older adults with knee osteoarthritis feel less pain and improve their quality of life.
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Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
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Nanoparticles delivering an sPLA2 blocker for knee osteoarthritis
This project uses tiny, drug-filled nanoparticles to deliver an sPLA2-blocking medicine into the knee to reduce inflammation and slow knee osteoarthritis in people with painful knee OA.
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Remote tai chi for knee OA in everyday care
A nationwide study will test remotely delivered tai chi for people with knee osteoarthritis to see if it helps pain and function when added to usual care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.