NCT07537114

Effects of Music During Walking on Pain and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis

Effects of Music-Based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation During Walking on Nociceptive Signaling and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to compare muscle activation, changes in pain sensitivity, and brain function, between different walking conditions, including walking to music, walking to metronome, and walking without music or metronome.

Detailed description

Participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA) will complete a single study visit which will include three walking tasks, each being 25 minutes in duration. The walking tasks will include walking without music or metronome, walking to metronome, and walking with music. Participants muscle activity, brain activity, and movements will be recorded during these tasks. Participant's pressure pain threshold will be recorded at the beginning and after each task.

Conditions

• Knee Osteoarthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music	Walking to rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music
BEHAVIORAL	Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome	walking to rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome
BEHAVIORAL	Control	Walking to no music or metronome

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-08-01
• Primary completion: 2027-06-01
• Completion: 2027-07-01
• First posted: 2026-04-17
• Last updated: 2026-04-17