Adding Group-Based Pain Neuroscience Education to a Community Exercise Program for Older Women With Knee Osteoarthritis

April 27, 2026 updated by: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Multidimensional Assessment of the Activities of the "Camina 60+" Program for the Promotion of Healthy Aging - Adding Group-Based Pain Neuroscience Education to a Community Exercise Program for Older Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Trial of Feasibility and Preliminary Effects.

This pilot trial aimed to estimate preliminary clinical effects and to assess the feasibility of adding group-based pain neuroscience education (PNE) to exercise in women aged ≥60 years with medically diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and current knee pain. Participants were randomized to either 10 weeks of community-based exercise plus PNE or exercise alone. All participants attended weekly group exercise sessions, and those in the intervention group also participated in five in-person group-based PNE sessions lasting 30 minutes each. Physical fitness tests were administered, and participants completed questionnaires assessing disability, pain intensity, and pain neurophysiology knowledge.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and disabling condition in older adults, with the knee being the most commonly affected joint. In Chile, OA represents a substantial clinical and public health burden, particularly among women aged 60 years and older, who experience high rates of pain, disability, and loss of functional independence. Disability and pain are hallmark symptoms of knee OA and are strongly associated with reduced physical function and poorer quality of life in older women. Current clinical guidelines recommend education, self-management, and exercise as first-line treatments. Exercise therapy can improve pain and physical function in people with knee OA, but average effects are modest and individual responses vary. Pain in knee OA is increasingly understood within a biopsychosocial framework, suggesting that maladaptive pain beliefs contribute to persistent symptoms. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) may complement exercise by improving pain-related knowledge and psychological outcomes, although evidence-particularly for group-based delivery and disability outcomes in older women-remains limited. This study was implemented in the context of a training program called "Camina 60+KineUC", a community-based program jointly delivered by the UC Older Adults Program and the Department of Physical Therapy from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The program provides weekly group sessions focused on strength, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises for adults aged 60 years and older and is designed to promote healthy aging. The study was designed to assess feasibility and estimate preliminary between-group effect sizes rather than to make definitive efficacy conclusions.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
19

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Chile
      • Santiago, Chile
        • Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Medical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis with current knee pain.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to understand study procedures during baseline assessment. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) cutoff used to define adequate comprehension for study participation was ≥24/30).
  • Severe neurological disease.
  • Anticipated inability to attend all educational sessions or attendance less than 80% at the end of the program.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Exercise plus Pain Neuroscience Education
In addition to the 10-week Camina 60+KineUC exercise program, this group received five in-person group-based Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) sessions lasting 30 minutes each. Sessions were delivered across the intervention period using standardized digital presentations, for a total dose aligned with evidence suggesting psychosocial benefits when PNE is combined with exercise. The intervention was delivered by four fourth-year physical therapy students trained in PNE, based on recognized educational resources. Intervention fidelity was ensured through prior training, use of standardized materials, and adherence to a prespecified session checklist.
Other: Pain neuroscience education (PNE)
The intervention group received five group-based PNE sessions of 30 min each ((total dose = 150 min) delivered in person across the 10-week intervention period using digital presentations. The selected dose was informed by dose-response syntheses suggesting that 150-200 min of PNE may be associated with clinically relevant changes in psychosocial outcomes when combined with exercise. Sessions were delivered by four fourth-year physical therapy students trained in PNE and were based on The Knee Osteoarthritis Handbook (Noigroup©) and Dolor Crónico, una guía de ayuda para pacientes (Equipo DolorUC book). To support intervention fidelity, the student facilitators completed 5 days of 2hrs of training in PNE and communications skills before delivering the intervention, used a standardized slide deck and session script, and followed a prespecified checklist for each session.
Other: Exercise program
The "Camina 60+KineUC" is a community-based program jointly delivered by the UC Older Adults Program and the Department of Physical Therapy of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The program provides weekly group in-person sessions focused on strength, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises for adults aged 60 years and older, guided by monitors (physiotherapists and trained physiotherapy students), considering progression in movement complexity, or balance challenge according to tolerance, throughout the 10 weeks of the program.
Active Comparator: Exercise-only group
Camina 60+KineUC exercise program for 10 weeks, which consists of group exercise sessions delivered weekly, in person, and includes strength, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises. Each exercise session lasted 60min and was delivered by the monitors of Camina60+. Sessions included warm-up, strengthening, aerobic training, balance, and flexibility. Progression across the 10-week intervention period was standardized by movement complexity, or balance challenge according to tolerance. After study completion, they were offered the same group-based PNE program provided to the intervention group.
Other: Exercise program
The "Camina 60+KineUC" is a community-based program jointly delivered by the UC Older Adults Program and the Department of Physical Therapy of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The program provides weekly group in-person sessions focused on strength, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises for adults aged 60 years and older, guided by monitors (physiotherapists and trained physiotherapy students), considering progression in movement complexity, or balance challenge according to tolerance, throughout the 10 weeks of the program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
KOOS - Activities of Daily Living (KOOS-ADL)
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Self-reported disability during activities of daily living, measured using the Activities of Daily Living subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS is a knee-specific, self-administered questionnaire. The ADL subscale is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better knee-related function.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
KOOS - Pain Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Knee pain measured using the Pain subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating less pain and better knee status.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
KOOS - Symptoms Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Knee-related symptoms measured using the Symptoms subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating fewer symptoms.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
KOOS - Sport and Recreation Function Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Self-reported difficulty with sport and recreational activities measured using the Sport and Recreation Function subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better function.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
KOOS - Knee-related Quality of Life Subscale
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Knee-related quality of life measured using the Quality of Life subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better knee-related quality of life.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Pain intensity
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Pain intensity was assessed with a 10-cm visual analog scale, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Lower-body functional performance
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Lower-body functional performance was assessed with the 30-s Sit-to-Stand Test, scored as the number of repetitions completed in 30 seconds.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Pain neurophysiology knowledge
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.
Pain neurophysiology knowledge was assessed with the Spanish version of the Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (R-NPQ), with higher scores indicating greater knowledge.
Baseline and immediately after the 10-week intervention period.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility - Screening and Recruitment
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Number of participants assessed for eligibility, excluded, and randomized. Unit of Measure: Number of participants
From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Feasibility - Retention
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Retention defined as the proportion of randomized participants who completed the post-intervention assessment. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants (%)
From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Feasibility - Exercise Adherence
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Exercise adherence defined as attendance at ≥80% of scheduled exercise sessions during the intervention period. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants meeting adherence criterion (%)
From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Feasibility - Attendance at Pain Neuroscience Education Sessions
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.
Attendance defined as the number of group-based Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) sessions attended (0-5) among participants allocated to the intervention group. Unit of Measure: Number of sessions attended
From enrollment to the end of the 10-week intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Gustavo Torres, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 27, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 240131002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

The small sample size of the study may limit the ability to fully ensure participant confidentiality if individual-level data were to be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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