Pain effects on split-belt walking adaptation in older adults
Official title: Pain and Split-belt Motor Learning in Older Adults
Run by University of Delaware · NCT07054840 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether brief, controlled leg pain changes how older adults learn and remember adjustments to walking on a split-belt treadmill.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 34 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Delaware Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, Delaware) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 26, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 4, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07054840 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults age 55–90 who are generally medically healthy, can provide informed consent, attend all testing sessions, and are willing to undergo a brief experimental pain procedure.
✕Probably not a fit
People with uncontrolled cardiac or blood-pressure problems, significant cognitive impairment (MoCA < 23), moderate-to-severe untreated psychiatric conditions, or recent/chronic medical issues are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will induce brief acute pain on the lower leg using 0.1% capsaicin cream with a heat pack and have participants walk on a split-belt treadmill to measure implicit locomotor learning and retention. Participants aged 55–90 who are generally medically healthy and pass cognitive and mental-health screening will attend multiple on-site testing sessions at the University of Delaware. Participants may undergo the experimental pain paradigm during testing, and investigators will compare immediate adaptation and retention across pain and non-pain conditions using gait measurements. Safety monitoring includes resting heart rate and blood pressure checks and screening with MoCA, GAD-7, and PHQ questionnaires.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help clinicians tailor gait rehabilitation for older adults by accounting for how acute pain affects motor learning and retention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous split-belt locomotor adaptation studies and experimental pain paradigms in younger adults have shown pain can alter motor learning, but comparable data in older adults are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 55-90 years old * Self-identifying as generally medically healthy * Able to read, write and speak English * Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions * Willing to undergo the experimental pain paradigm, if selected Exclusion Criteria: * Resting heart rate \< 50 or \> 100 bpm * Resting blood pressure \< 90/60 or \> 165/95 * Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. (Mild to moderate treated ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and/or depression are allowed.) * Score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<23 * Score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale ≥ 10 * Score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 ≥ 2 and score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10 * Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or peripheral vascular disease) * Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity * History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan * Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months * Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health is allowed) * Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with an intensity of \> 2/10 * Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers * Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus * Significant skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat * Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus * Prior participation in a split-belt locomotor learning study in the Neuromotor Behavior Lab in the past 2 years
Where it's running
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Health Sciences Complex
Newark, Delaware, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Susanne Morton — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Ashley Fath
- Email: RNP-Lab@udel.edu
- Phone: 302-283-9936
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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.