Pain and Split-belt Motor Learning in Older Adults

This study is looking into how short-term pain affects how older adults learn and remember new movements. You might be able to join if you are between 55 and 90 years old, generally healthy, and can read and speak English. The study involves applying capsaicin 0.1% cream (a cream that can cause a warming or burning sensation) combined with a heat pack to one of your lower legs. Researchers will measure how well you learn and remember movements on the first and second days of the study. The study aims to enroll 34 participants, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design: This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific intervention. It plans to enroll 34 participants.
What's involved: You would need to be willing to undergo the experimental pain method and attend all testing sessions. The study measures learning and forgetting over two days.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Participants are followed up at the end of day 1 and beginning of day 2 for measurements.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Pain and Split-belt Motor Learning in Older Adults

Recruiting

NAAges 55–90InterventionalBasic science

University of Delaware

~34 participants

Updated 2025-12-04 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Capsaicin 0.1% cream combined with a heat pack and applied to the lower leg

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Learning magnitude

Measured over End of day 1

+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Aging

Older Adults

Pain

Motor Learning

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Delaware1

Study leadership

Susanne Morton · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Delaware

Who to contact

Ashley Fath

[email protected]

302-283-9936

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 55-90 years old

Self-identifying as generally medically healthy

Able to read, write and speak English

Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions

Willing to undergo the experimental pain paradigm, if selected

Exclusion

Resting heart rate \< 50 or \> 100 bpm

Resting blood pressure \< 90/60 or \> 165/95

Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. (Mild to moderate treated ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and/or depression are allowed.)

Score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<23

Score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale ≥ 10

Score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 ≥ 2 and score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10

Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or peripheral vascular disease)

Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity

History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan

Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months

Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health is allowed)

Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with an intensity of \> 2/10

Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers

Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus

Significant skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat

Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus

Prior participation in a split-belt locomotor learning study in the Neuromotor Behavior Lab in the past 2 years

What this trial measures

Learning magnitudeEnd of day 1
Step length asymmetry averaged over the last 25 strides of the practice period on day 1.
Retention magnitudeBeginning of day 2.
Step length asymmetry averaged over the first 4 strides of the re-adaptation period on day 2.
Forgetting indexEnd of day 1 and beginning of day 2.
Difference between retention magnitude and learning magnitude.

Trialytics