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tDCS for Pain Modulation in Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT07291791 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 102

Last updated 2026-04-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common condition that causes long-lasting knee pain and difficulty with daily activities. Many patients have pain that is stronger than expected from joint changes because the nervous system becomes more sensitive to pain. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that uses a small electrical current applied to the scalp to help reduce pain sensitivity.

This study will test whether active tDCS over the primary motor cortex can reduce pain and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis. A total of 102 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active tDCS or sham (placebo) stimulation. All participants will receive 15 sessions over three weeks. We will measure pain intensity, pain sensitivity, physical function, depression, cognition, and quality of life before the treatment, after the 3-week treatment program, and again at the 1-month follow-up.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that applies low-intensity direct current to modulate cortical excitability. In this trial, stimulation is delivered over the primary motor cortex (M1) using saline-soaked sponge electrodes. For the active arm, anodal tDCS is applied at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, for 15 sessions over three weeks. For the sham arm, the same electrode placement and device settings are used, but the current is ramped down after approximately 30 seconds to mimic the sensation of active stimulation without producing neuromodulatory effects.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Suez Canal University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Nourhan E. Elkaraly, M.B.B.Ch.2015; MSc (PMRR)2020 · Suez Canal University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Aziza S. Omar, M.D. · Suez Canal University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Ahmed F. Genedy, M.D. · Faculty of Medicine, Armed Forces Military Academy

  • Samah I. Nasef, M.D. · Suez Canal University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Maha E. Ibrahim, M.D. · Suez Canal University, Faculty of Medicine

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-12-20
Primary Completion
2026-05-20
Completion
2026-06-01

Countries

  • Egypt

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07291791 on ClinicalTrials.gov