NCT02723929

Effects of tDCS and tUS on Pain Perception in OA of the Knee

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Ultrasound (TUS) on the Perception of Pain and Functional Limitations Due to Osteoarthritis of the Knee

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 64 (actual)
• Sponsor: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in conjunction with transcranial ultrasound (TUS) on pain perception and functional limitations in people with osteoarthritis of the knee. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a decrease in pain levels with active stimulation, when compared to sham stimulation.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Osteoarthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	active low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation/active transcranial ultrasound	Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation of up to 2mA. During active stimulation, the current will be active for the full 20 minutes. Subjects will also undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for the full 20 minutes.
DEVICE	Sham low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation/sham transcranial ultrasound	Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation, as in the active condition; however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the current will not be active for the full 20 minutes. Subjects will also undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound in the same par. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-09-01
• Primary completion: 2019-08-15
• Completion: 2026-12-07
• First posted: 2016-03-31
• Last updated: 2025-09-29
• Results posted: 2021-08-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States