Improving pain management for knee surgery patients

Optimizing Pain Self-Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Not applicable Interventional University of Virginia · NCT06038240

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

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment150 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Virginia Academic / other
Locations1 site (Charlottesville, Virginia)
Trial IDNCT06038240 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-85 with a confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis who are scheduled for unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

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.

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 performed: 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.

Eligibility criteria

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 this trial is running

Charlottesville, Virginia

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Osteo Arthritis KneeKnee Pain ChronicSurgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.