Knee OsteoarthritisNCT07537114
Effects of Music During Walking on Pain and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music and Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Boston University Charles River Campus.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- What is being tested?
- Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music and Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Nov 2026to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Have activity related pain
- Experience morning knee stiffness ≤ 30 minutes
- Knee pain on most days for 3 months or more
- Able to walk at least 20 minutes with assistance
- Average overall knee pain severity of ≥= 4 on a 11-point numeric rating scale during previous week
- BMI ≤ 40
- Able to communicate using English at a level to understand the study procedures and informed consent
Who cannot join
- Contraindications to exercise
- Joint replacement in either hip, knee, or ankle
- 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.
- Previous knee osteotomy in either knee
- Other health conditions that impact motor functioning or prevent participation (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, etc.)
- Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections in either knee in the previous 3 months
Show all 11Show fewer
- Pregnancy (self-report)
- Suspected or known drugs or alcohol abuse
- Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 24
- Hearing impairments
- Pain in lower back or legs that is greater than knee pain
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Yiwen Yang, DPT contact
About this study
Official title: Effects of Music-Based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation During Walking on Nociceptive Signaling and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis
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.
Read the detailed description
Participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA) will complete two study visits. Both visits will include three walking tasks, which are walking without music or metronome, walking to metronome, and walking with music. During the first visit, participants will alternate between three walking tasks and walk for 7 minutes, for a total of 3 trials. Participants muscle activity, brain activity, and movements will be recorded during these walking trials. During the second visit, participant will perform each walking task for 25 minutes, with rest in between. Participants muscle 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
- Being tested
- Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music, Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome, Control
- Keywords
- music, rhythmic auditory stimulation, knee pain
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with musicBehavioural
Walking to Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music
Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronomeBehavioural
Walking to Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome
ControlBehavioural
Walking to no music or metronome
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythmic auditory stimulation during walking | Experimental | All participants will be exposed to different walking conditions including music, metronome, and no music or metronome Receives: Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music; Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome; Behavioral: Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH)
Change in pressure pain threshold (PPT) from baseline to after each walking task
Measured: Baseline
Medial quadriceps - medial hamstrings muscle coactivation
Medial quadriceps-medial hamstrings muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (3)
Medial quadriceps- medial gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Medial quadriceps-medial gastrocnemius muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Measured: Baseline
Lateral quadriceps- lateral hamstrings muscle coactivation
Lateral quadriceps-lateral hamstrings muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Measured: Baseline
Lateral quadriceps - lateral gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Lateral quadriceps-lateral gastrocnemoius muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Apr 2026
- Study startNov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Knee OsteoarthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boston University Charles River Campus
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Deepak Kumar, Boston University Charles River Campus
- Investigators
- Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD, Principal investigator, Boston University Charles River Campus
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07537114
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 8399
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Requests will be considered on an individual basis
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Music-Based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation During Walking on Nociceptive Signaling and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07537114
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 8399
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- music, rhythmic auditory stimulation, knee pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Boston University Charles River CampusUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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 two study visits. Both visits will include three walking tasks, which are walking without music or metronome, walking to metronome, and walking with music. During the first visit, participants will alternate between three walking tasks and walk for 7 minutes, for a total of 3 trials. Participants muscle activity, brain activity, and movements will be recorded during these walking trials. During the second visit, participant will perform each walking task for 25 minutes, with rest in between. Participants muscle activity and movements will be recorded during these tasks. Participant's pressure pain threshold will be recorded at the beginning and after each task.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythmic auditory stimulation during walking | Experimental | Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music, Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome, Behavioral: ControlAll participants will be exposed to different walking conditions including music, metronome, and no music or metronome |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Have activity related pain
- Experience morning knee stiffness ≤ 30 minutes
- Knee pain on most days for 3 months or more
- Able to walk at least 20 minutes with assistance
- Average overall knee pain severity of ≥= 4 on a 11-point numeric rating scale during previous week
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Contraindications to exercise
- Joint replacement in either hip, knee, or ankle
- 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.
- Previous knee osteotomy in either knee
- Other health conditions that impact motor functioning or prevent participation (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, etc.)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with musicWalking to Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music | Behavioural | Rhythmic auditory stimulation during walking |
| Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronomeWalking to Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome | Behavioural | Rhythmic auditory stimulation during walking |
| ControlWalking to no music or metronome | Behavioural | Rhythmic auditory stimulation during walking |
Primary outcome
Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH)
Time frame: Baseline
Change in pressure pain threshold (PPT) from baseline to after each walking task
Medial quadriceps - medial hamstrings muscle coactivation
Time frame: Baseline
Medial quadriceps-medial hamstrings muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
3 secondary outcomes
Medial quadriceps- medial gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Time frame: Baseline
Lateral quadriceps- lateral hamstrings muscle coactivation
Time frame: Baseline
Lateral quadriceps - lateral gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Requests will be considered on an individual basis
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yiwen Yang, DPT contact
Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD principal investigator
Boston University Charles River Campus
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music and Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome in people with Knee Osteoarthritis, run by Boston University Charles River Campus.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Deepak Kumar, PT, PhD (617-358-3037, kumard@bu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026.