Telehealth mindful exercise for knee osteoarthritis (TEMPO)
Telehealth Exercise and Mindfulness of Pain in knee Osteoarthritis (TEMPO): A digital Feasibility Study
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 ID | NIH-11132712 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with knee osteoarthritis who experience activity-related pain and can use telehealth and wearable devices are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Deepak — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Deepak
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 below.