Telehealth exercise and mindfulness program for knee osteoarthritis

Telehealth Exercise and Mindfulness for Pain in Osteoarthritis: A Stage 1B Feasibility Study

NA · Boston University Charles River Campus · NCT06684587

This study is testing whether a 10-week online program that combines mindful exercise with regular exercise can help people with knee osteoarthritis feel better and stay active.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment66 (estimated)
Ages50 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorBoston University Charles River Campus (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT06684587 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility of a 10-week telehealth intervention that combines mindful exercise with traditional exercise for individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis. A total of 62 adults will be randomly assigned to either a mindful exercise group or an exercise-only group, with both groups participating in supervised sessions via videoconferencing twice a week. Participants will also engage in home exercise programs and complete various surveys to assess pain, function, and mood throughout the study. The feasibility will be measured through recruitment, retention, and adherence rates.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 50 and older with knee osteoarthritis who experience activity-related pain and can participate in remote sessions.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to exercise or those currently receiving physical therapy or mindfulness programs may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could provide a novel, accessible approach to managing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using telehealth interventions for chronic pain management, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Meet National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines for knee osteoarthritis (i.e., age ≥ 50 years, presence of activity related pain, no morning knee stiffness or presence of morning knee stiffness ≤ 30 minutes)
* BMI\<40
* Knee pain on most days for 3 months or more
* Average overall knee pain severity of ≥ 4 on an 11-point numeric rating scale over last 7 days, at least 2 weeks apart
* Able to attend remote sessions
* Can speak and understand English at a sufficient level to understand the study procedures and informed consent.
* Available for study duration

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindications to exercise
* Other pain in lower back or legs that is greater than knee pain
* Received physical therapy treatment for knee OA in the past 6 months or currently receiving physical therapy
* Received any mindfulness programs such as Tai Chi, meditation, etc. in the past 6 months or currently receiving such program
* Currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer except non-melanoma skin cancer
* History of other disease that may involve the index joint including inflammatory joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathy (eg, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease related arthropathy), crystalline disease (eg, gout or pseudogout), lupus erythematosus, knee joint infections, Paget's disease affecting the knee, or knee joint tumors.
* Any knee surgery in the previous 6 months
* Joint replacement in either hip or ankle
* Previous knee osteotomy partial or total knee replacement in either knee
* Planned major treatment for knee OA (e.g., surgery, injections, physical therapy) during the study period
* Planned major surgery in the next 6 months
* Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections in either knee in the previous 3 months
* Neurological conditions that impacts motor functioning (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, etc).
* Pregnancy (self-report)
* Participation in another clinical trial for any joint or muscle pain
* Suspected or known drugs or alcohol abuse

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

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.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis, Telehealth, Exercise, Mindfulness, Pain, Feasibility

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.