Why walking causes different amounts of knee pain in people with osteoarthritis

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This observational study will enroll 300 adults with knee osteoarthritis and collect detailed biopsychosocial data across two in-person visits. Participants will complete surveys, physical function and exercise tasks, knee X-ray and MRI, non-invasive brain imaging, biomechanics during mobility, and sensory testing. Researchers will use advanced analyses to link neural, joint, biomechanical, and psychosocial factors to movement-evoked pain and walking limitations. The overarching hypothesis is that central neural processes, together with peripheral and psychosocial factors, help explain why some people have severe disabling pain despite similar joint degeneration.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Knee pain for greater than 6 months.
* Moderate-to-severe knee pain (\>3/10) due to osteoarthritis, as defined by American College of Rheumatology and EULAR diagnostic criteria, on \>50% of days in the past month.
* KL grade 2-4 indicating significant degenerative changes on knee X-ray.
* 45-80 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis).
* More intense pain due to another chronic pain syndrome (e.g. fibromyalgia, hip osteoarthritis)
* Significant pain or weakness in the lower extremities due to a neurological condition (e.g. lumbar radiculopathy, paresis due to stroke)
* Acute pain that is more intense than knee osteoarthritis pain
* Current routine use of more than 15 mg oral morphine equivalents per day (use of \<15 mg OME does not exclude the participant).
* Recent new medication, exercise, behavioral, or complementary and integrative treatment started in the last month. Stable use of these treatments for greater than 1 month does not exclude the participant.
* Recent intra-articular injection of steroid or other agent (greater than 1 month does not exclude the participant)
* Recent knee radiofrequency ablation (greater than 3 months does not exclude the participant)
* Recent knee arthroscopic surgery (greater than 3 months does not exclude the participant)
* History of knee replacement or open knee surgery on the index knee, defined as the more painful knee on average over the last month.
* Inability to walk or climb stairs without significant assistance (e.g. a one-person assist, use a wheel chair; however, the use of a cane does not exclude the participant).
* Inability to participate in study procedures (e.g. cognitive impairment limiting ability to understand directions, inability to understand and read English)
* Uncontrolled or unstable medical disorder preventing participation in study procedures
* History of brain surgery
* Tattoos on sensory testing sites
* Pregnancy
* Breastfeeding
* Inability to under knee MRI scan due to incompatible devices or foreign bodies.

Where it's running

• UPMC Pain Medicine at Centre Commons
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Benedict Alter, MD, PhD — University of Pittsburgh
• Study coordinator: Benedict Alter, MD, PhD
• Email: bea51@pitt.edu
• Phone: 412-665-8052

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.