Taking people in United StatesNo phase

Powered knee brace to ease knee osteoarthritis pain during daily movement

Tests a motorized knee brace in adults with knee osteoarthritis pain.

Key facts

Who runs it: University of Michigan
Where: Ann Arbor, United StatesSee the site
Trial code: NCT07673328
Registry title: Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With Modular Powered Orthoses Renewal
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 65 people, planned
Started: 18 Jul 2025
Expected to end: 31 Mar 2030
Type of study: Interventional
Treatments tested: Modular powered orthosis
Record updated: 30 September 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 two groups: healthy young adults without disabilities, and adults with knee osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis) and knee pain. Participants test a powered knee brace (exoskeleton).

Age: Healthy participants: 18 to 65 years. Knee osteoarthritis participants: 30 to 85 years.
Sex: All sexes can join.
Disease stage: For the knee group: a medical diagnosis of osteoarthritis in both the kneecap joint and the main knee joint (patellofemoral and tibiofemoral). Pain of 4 or more out of 10 during daily activities. Able to walk 6 minutes without help from a person (a walking aid is allowed). Able to go up and down ramps and stairs, with or without handrails. All participants must weigh less than 300 lbs (136 kg) and have a BMI under 40.
Earlier treatment: People in the knee group who use opioids cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

Pregnancy (self-reported)
Thinking or memory problems, measured as an MMSE score of <22, or vision problems that would make consent or following instructions hard
Serious nerve, muscle, bone, heart, balance or vision conditions that would interfere with the study or with walking
Knee group: a leg fracture within 6 months, very limited knee movement, uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes, or a doctor's advice not to walk or exercise
Known allergy to medical grade tape

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 25 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

Aged between 18 to 65 years
Weigh less than 300 lbs (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
BMI < 40 (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
Aged between 30 to 85 years
Medical diagnosis of patellofemoral and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis
Patient reported pain ≥ 4 out of 10 during activities of daily life (to avoid floor effects)
Weigh less than 300 lbs (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
BMI < 40 (due to challenges in bracing heavier participants)
Ability to walk 6 minutes without assistance from a person (may use walking aid)
Ability to ascend/descend ramps and stairs with or without the use of handrails

Who cannot take part

Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual diseases and/or impairments that may interfere with the study
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape
Significant neurological (e.g., stroke) or cardiovascular disorder that may affect the ability to walk
Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes
Cognitive deficits or visual impairment that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of <22
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape
Pregnant (self-report)
Unable to walk for 20 minutes
Cognitive deficits that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of <22
Pregnant (self-report)
Any recent lower-extremity fracture (within 6 months)
Significant limitation on knee joint range of motion
Advised by a physician not to walk or exercise
Use of opioids

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 18 and 85 years old?

Where in United States

Rehab LabAnn Arbor, United StatesContact: Kashvi PotaTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The overall goal of this project is to establish a novel design and control paradigm for modular, partial-assist powered orthoses (exoskeletons) to enhance voluntary lower-limb motion and manage pain in broad patient populations. Building upon a previous study period that addressed weakness from advanced age or muscle fatigue, this current period extends the technology to novel powered unloader orthoses designed to manage knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. The investigators hypothesize that by providing 15-30% of biological joint torque, these motorized devices can reduce muscular contributions to painful loads on the joint's surfaces during activities of daily living (ADLs). The project aims to develop a task-agnostic, neural network-based controller and establish the feasibility of reducing knee pain and muscle effort in individuals with multi-compartment knee osteoarthritis.

The group in the trial

ExoskeletonTreatment being tested
Experimental: Exoskeleton Participants in this arm of the study will perform various tasks while wearing the modular powered orthosis
Treatment: Modular powered orthosis