Improving pain management for knee surgery patients
Official title: Optimizing Pain Self-Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Run by University of Virginia · NCT06038240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a new way of managing pain that combines savoring meditation with education about pain can help people with knee osteoarthritis feel better after knee surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Virginia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Charlottesville, Virginia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 27, 2023 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | September 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06038240 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-85 with a confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis who are scheduled for unilateral total knee arthroplasty.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe psychiatric disorders, unstable medical conditions, or those who have recently undergone knee surgery may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of a positive emotion-generating practice called savoring meditation, combined with pain neuroscience education, to reduce pain and enhance reward system function in patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty. A total of 150 participants will be randomly assigned to either savoring meditation or a standard pain self-management education program, with sessions delivered remotely by trained interventionists. The study aims to assess pain levels and related psychological factors post-surgery to determine the optimal approach for improving outcomes in knee surgery patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce post-surgical pain and improve overall satisfaction and recovery for knee arthroplasty patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific combination of savoring meditation and pain education is novel, similar psychosocial interventions have shown promise in improving pain management in other contexts.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-85 years old. * Have a physician-confirmed treatment plan to undergo unilateral TKA along with physician-confirmed knee osteoarthritis diagnosis. * Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled sessions and study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Member of a vulnerable population including pregnant women, children, prisoners, cognitively impaired, and non-English-speaking subjects. * Current unstable, severe medical comorbidity. * Current severe psychiatric comorbidity (e.g., schizophrenia, psychosis, or other unstable psychiatric disorder). * Current severe alcohol or substance use disorder. * Weekly or more frequent use of opioids in the past 30 days (other than tramadol and/or codeine) for therapeutic or non-therapeutic purposes. * Other surgery of the affected knee in the last 6 months. * Previous TKA.
Where it's running
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Fontaine Research Park
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Patrick Finan, PhD
- Email: tpx4xe@uvahealth.org
- Phone: 4349249514
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.