Effects of Arm and Leg Exercise on Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis

Comparing Effects of Upper Extremity Versus Lower Extremity Exercise on Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia in People With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Cross-over Study

This study is testing whether exercising your arms or legs can help reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 45 Years to 90 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Texas, El Paso (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (El Paso, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT06105788 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized cross-over study investigates how upper extremity exercise (using an arm ergometer) compares to lower extremity exercise (using a cycling ergometer) in inducing hypoalgesia and affecting knee pain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Participants will undergo three laboratory visits, including baseline assessments and two exercise sessions, each separated by a wash-out period. The study will also examine the influence of socioeconomic factors and autonomic function on the exercise outcomes related to pain. Data on knee pain, central pain mechanisms, and exercise-induced hypoalgesia will be collected before and after each exercise session.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 45 and older with knee osteoarthritis who experience activity-related knee pain.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions that contraindicate exercise or affect pain assessments, such as peripheral neuropathy or serious uncontrolled diseases, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into effective exercise interventions for reducing knee pain in osteoarthritis patients.

How similar studies have performed: While similar studies have explored exercise effects on pain, this specific approach focusing on arm versus leg exercise in knee osteoarthritis is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Participants with knee OA (Target n=40)

Inclusion Criteria:

We will recruit participants with knee OA, using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's clinical diagnostic criteria, which does not require radiographs. The clinical diagnostic criteria include:

* age ≥45
* activity-related knee pain
* either no morning joint-related stiffness or stiffness that lasts ≤ 30 minutes.
* knee pain at least 4 on a 0-10 pain scale
* knee pain as a chief complaint if having multiple pain
* understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

* peripheral neuropathy or other sensation loss on the body sites for pain measurements (i.e., the wrist, knee, the forearm)
* use of medical devices electrically active (e.g., pacemaker)
* chronic use of opioids
* pregnant women
* serious and uncontrolled concomitant disease, including cardiovascular, nervous system, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, metabolic, hormonal, endocrine, gastrointestinal or epileptic disease
* rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and any neurological disorders that prevent the study procedure
* cognitive impairment
* history of a knee replacement surgery
* inability to perform exercise due to severe pain or other symptoms
* any intervention procedures for knee pain in the last 3 months

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for pain-free controls (Target n = 20) Pain-free controls are not having a pain-related medical condition. They have to speak and understand English. Pain-free controls are excluded if they had experienced a pain episode, caused by musculoskeletal injury or otherwise in the previous 3 months.

Where this trial is running

El Paso, Texas

• The University of Texas at El Paso — El Paso, Texas, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kosaku Aoyagi, PhD — Assistant Professor
• Study coordinator: Kosaku Aoyagi, PhD

Conditions Knee Osteoarthritis; Knee Pain Chronic; Central Pain Syndrome