Back to search results

Photobiomodulation for Chronic Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis

This study, called EPIC-KO, is looking at how Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) affects pain and inflammation in people with chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis. PBM uses a device that delivers therapeutic light to the affected knee. You would receive either the active PBM device or a sham device (which looks the same but doesn't emit light). The study aims to see if PBM can reduce knee pain intensity. To join, you need to be 50 to 99 years old, have knee osteoarthritis with pain for at least 3 months, and an average knee pain intensity of at least 30 out of 100. The study plans to enroll 30 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 30 participants. It compares an active Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) device to a sham PBM device.
What's involved
You would receive six treatment sessions over 2-3 weeks, with each session lasting about 10 minutes after a topical application. There will be multiple visits, including a baseline and a final follow-up.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your knee pain intensity will be measured from baseline up to approximately 3-4 weeks after baseline.

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

NCT07079969

Effects of Photobiomodulation on Inflammation and Chronic Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis (EPIC-KO)

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 50–99InterventionalTreatment
University of Florida
~30 participants
Updated 2026-08-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) deviceSham PBM device

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Knee Pain Intensity (Numeric Rating Scale)
Measured over Baseline (Visit 0) to Final Follow-up (Visit 7; approximately 3-4 weeks after baseline)

Conditions

Chronic Knee Pain

Explore related trials

Osteoarthritis of knee

NCT07079969

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Floridastudy coordinator listed

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Selenia Rubio, MD. MBA,
[email protected]
352-273-5590
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

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

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Clinically confirmed knee osteoarthritis (OA) based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria with symptomatic pain for ≥ 3 months
Average knee-pain intensity ≥ 30/100 on both the Daily Symptom Diary (DSD) run-in and CATI
Age ≥ 50 years
Ability to give informed consent, attend visits, and complete ≥ 4 of 7 DSD entries pre-randomization
Capacity to perform all study tasks (Timed Up-and-Go, knee OA assessments, blood draw, questionnaires, etc)

Exclusion

Active systemic rheumatic condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus)
Fibromyalgia with pain outside the knee that is equal to or worse than knee pain
Clinically significant surgery on the index knee (e.g., arthroplasty, osteotomy)
Knee surgery within the past 6 weeks
Intra-articular injection to the index knee within the past 14 days
Daily opioid therapy
Hypersensitivity to PBM
Migraine triggered by light
Open wounds, skin infections, eczema, burns, or other dermatologic conditions at or near the treatment application site.
New prescription or OTC analgesic, non-pharmacologic pain therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy initiated ≤ 30 days before screening
Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 150 mmHg or DBP \> 95 mmHg)
Unstable or activity-limiting cardiovascular or peripheral arterial disease
Diagnosed neurological disorder (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy)
History or evidence of stroke or moderate-severe traumatic brain injury
Serious psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization within the past 12 months
Active suicidal ideation
Current substance-use disorder or past hospitalization for substance-use treatment
Compromised skin integrity at or near the treatment site (e.g., open wounds, active rash, dermatitis, burns, ulcers, eczema, infection) interfering with topical treatment or PBM
Uncontrolled diabetes
Diabetes-related complications (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, severe nephropathy, chronic ulcers at treatment site)
Chronic pain at another body site more severe than knee pain
Pregnancy or lactation
Cognitive impairment that precludes informed consent or task participation

What this trial measures

  • Change in Knee Pain Intensity (Numeric Rating Scale)Baseline (Visit 0) to Final Follow-up (Visit 7; approximately 3-4 weeks after baseline)

    Knee pain will be assessed using the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (V0) and at the final follow-up visit, one week after the last treatment session.