200 Participants Needed

tDCS + Mindfulness Meditation for Osteoarthritis

Recruiting at 2 trial locations
HA
HA
Overseen ByHyochol Ahn, PhD,RN,MSN
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you do not change your current medication regimen for pain throughout the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for osteoarthritis?

Research shows that combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) significantly reduces pain and improves symptoms in older adults with knee osteoarthritis, with participants reporting high satisfaction and no serious side effects.12345

Is tDCS combined with Mindfulness Meditation safe for humans?

Research suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) is generally safe for humans, with mild and temporary side effects like itching and tingling. Studies have shown that participants tolerate this treatment well without serious adverse effects.13678

How does the tDCS + Mindfulness Meditation treatment for osteoarthritis differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which uses a mild electrical current to stimulate the brain, with mindfulness meditation, a mental practice that focuses on being present and aware. Unlike traditional pain medications, this approach is non-drug and targets pain perception and processing in the brain, offering a novel way to manage osteoarthritis pain without the use of pharmaceuticals.12345

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with active mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) on clinical pain,osteo arthritis (OA)-related clinical symptoms, physiopsychological pain processing and participant satisfaction with treatment in patients with knee OA.

Research Team

HA

Hyochol Ahn, PhD,RN,MSN

Principal Investigator

University of Arizona

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking adults with knee pain from osteoarthritis, who've had an average pain score of at least 30 out of 100 in the past three months. Participants should not plan to change their pain medication during the study and must have access to videoconferencing tools.

Inclusion Criteria

Have no plan to change medication regimens for pain throughout the trial
Can speak and read English
I have knee pain diagnosed as osteoarthritis.
See 1 more

Exclusion Criteria

Alcohol/substance abuse
I have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or fibromyalgia.
I have a history of brain surgery, tumor, seizure, stroke, or metal in my brain.
See 5 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) or sham interventions for knee osteoarthritis

2 weeks
5 times a week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including assessments of mindfulness, pain intensity, and osteoarthritis symptoms

3 months
3 follow-up assessments (months 1, 2, and 3 post-intervention)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • active tDCS paired with active MBM
  • active tDCS paired with sham MBM
  • sham tDCS paired with active MBM
  • sham tDCS paired with sham MBM
Trial Overview The study tests if a combination of active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) can reduce knee pain and improve symptoms in osteoarthritis patients compared to placebo treatments.
Participant Groups
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: active tDCS paired with active MBM,Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: active tDCS paired with sham MBMActive Control1 Intervention
Group III: sham tDCS paired with active MBMActive Control1 Intervention
Group IV: sham tDCS paired with sham MBMPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials
974
Recruited
361,000+

University of Arizona

Lead Sponsor

Trials
545
Recruited
161,000+

Florida State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
234
Recruited
41,100+

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Collaborator

Trials
623
Recruited
10,400,000+

Findings from Research

A study involving 30 older adults with knee osteoarthritis showed that combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) significantly reduced pain and improved overall OA symptoms.
Participants tolerated the treatment well, reporting high satisfaction and no serious side effects, indicating that this combined approach is both safe and potentially effective for managing knee OA pain.
Efficacy of combining home-based transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness-based meditation for pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot study.Ahn, H., Zhong, C., Miao, H., et al.[2020]
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the motor cortex significantly reduced pain severity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis, with effects lasting up to three weeks after treatment.
The study involved 40 participants aged 50 to 70, and tDCS was well-tolerated with no serious adverse effects or cognitive changes reported, indicating its safety for this population.
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation over primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) on clinical pain severity and mobility performance in persons with knee osteoarthritis: An experimenter- and participant-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study.Ahn, H., Woods, AJ., Kunik, ME., et al.[2022]
The study involved 30 participants with knee osteoarthritis who received either active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with exercise or a sham treatment for 8 weeks, showing that adding tDCS is safe and feasible.
While both groups experienced pain reduction, only the active tDCS group showed significant improvements in function and pressure pain thresholds, suggesting that tDCS may enhance the benefits of exercise in managing knee osteoarthritis.
Addition of transcranial direct current stimulation to quadriceps strengthening exercise in knee osteoarthritis: A pilot randomised controlled trial.Chang, WJ., Bennell, KL., Hodges, PW., et al.[2022]

References

Efficacy of combining home-based transcranial direct current stimulation with mindfulness-based meditation for pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled pilot study. [2020]
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation over primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) on clinical pain severity and mobility performance in persons with knee osteoarthritis: An experimenter- and participant-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled pilot clinical study. [2022]
Addition of transcranial direct current stimulation to quadriceps strengthening exercise in knee osteoarthritis: A pilot randomised controlled trial. [2022]
Bayesian analysis of the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on experimental pain sensitivity in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: randomized sham-controlled pilot clinical study. [2022]
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Central Pain Responses in a Nonpharmacologic Treatment Trial of Osteoarthritis. [2021]
A systematic review on reporting and assessment of adverse effects associated with transcranial direct current stimulation. [2022]
Safety of transcranial direct current stimulation in healthy participants. [2021]
Safety of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Evidence Based Update 2016. [2022]
Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Back to top
Terms of Service·Privacy Policy·Cookies·Security