Taking people in United StatesNo phase

Why walking pain differs between people with knee osteoarthritis

Studies why people with similar knee osteoarthritis damage have different walking pain.

Key facts

Who runs it: University of Pittsburgh
Where: Pittsburgh, United StatesSee the site
Trial code: NCT07308873
Registry title: Individual Differences in Gait and Osteoarthritis Pain
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 300 people, planned
Started: 7 Jan 2026
Expected to end: 1 Aug 2030
Type of study: Observational
Record updated: 29 January 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with knee osteoarthritis and long-lasting knee pain. It studies why walking pain differs between people.

Age: 45-80 years old
Sex: All sexes can join
Disease stage: Knee pain for more than 6 months, rated more than 3 out of 10, on more than 50% of days in the past month. Knee X-ray shows KL grade 2-4 wear.
Earlier treatment: No knee replacement or open knee surgery on the more painful knee. No new treatment started in the last month. No joint injection in the last month. No knee radiofrequency ablation or arthroscopic surgery in the last 3 months. No more than 15 mg oral morphine equivalents per day.

Main reasons for not taking part

Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Other pain stronger than the knee pain, such as fibromyalgia or hip osteoarthritis
Leg pain or weakness from a nerve condition, such as after a stroke
Unable to walk or climb stairs without major help (a cane is allowed)
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, brain surgery in the past, or unable to have a knee MRI

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 22 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

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

Who cannot take part

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 arthroscopic surgery (greater than 3 months does not exclude the participant)
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)
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 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
Inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
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 knee radiofrequency ablation (greater than 3 months does not exclude the participant)
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)
Tattoos on sensory testing sites
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Inability to under knee MRI scan due to incompatible devices or foreign bodies

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

Are you between 45 and 80 years old?

Where in United States

UPMC Pain Medicine At Centre CommonsPittsburgh, United StatesContact: Benedict Alter, MD, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this observational study is to look at inter-individual differences in knee osteoarthritis (OA) walking pain and performance. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Read full original descriptionShow less

Why do some people with knee osteoarthritis have more severe disabling pain than others, even though the degenerative changes in their knees are similar?

What are the factors that contribute to walking pain in people with knee osteoarthritis?

Participants will complete surveys, perform physical function tasks, get a knee X-ray and MRI, undergo non-invasive brain imaging, and undergo sensory testing.

The group in the trial

Chronic knee pain with knee osteoarthritis
Adults 45-80 years old who have moderately severe knee osteoarthritis. They must have experienced knee pain for greater than 6 months and rate their daily knee pain at \>3 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale.