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Observational Study on Gait and Osteoarthritis Pain

This study is looking at why some people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), a condition causing joint pain and stiffness, experience more severe walking pain than others, even with similar knee damage. Researchers want to understand the different factors that contribute to this pain. You might be able to join if you are 45-80 years old, have had knee pain for over six months, and have moderate-to-severe knee pain due to OA. The study will involve surveys, physical tasks, X-rays, MRI scans, non-invasive brain imaging, and sensory testing. The main goal is to measure your pain intensity during a 6-minute walk test. This is an observational study, meaning no specific interventions are being tested, and the current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an observational study planning to enroll 300 participants. It is not testing a specific treatment.
What's involved
You will complete surveys, perform physical function tasks, get a knee X-ray and MRI, undergo non-invasive brain imaging, and undergo sensory testing over two study visits.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint, 6-minute walk test pain intensity, is measured at 6 minutes. No further follow-up is specified.

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

NCT07308873

Individual Differences in Gait and Osteoarthritis Pain

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 45–80Observational
University of Pittsburgh
~300 participants
Updated 2026-01-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
6 minute walk test pain intensity
Measured over 6 minutes

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)
Chronic Pain
Chronic Knee Pain

Explore related trials

Osteoarthritis of knee

NCT07308873

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.

  • UPMC Pain Medicine at Centre Commons

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniano site contact published

    Recruiting

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

Study leadership

  • Benedict Alter, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

Who to contact

Benedict Alter, MD, PhD
[email protected]
412-665-8052
Email the study team

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

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

Exclusion

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

What this trial measures

  • 6 minute walk test pain intensity6 minutes

    Pain intensity on numeric rating scale (0-10) during and around the time of the 6-minute walk test.