Pain Informed Movement for People With Knee Osteoarthritis

March 27, 2025 updated by: McMaster University

Pain Informed Movement for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a pain informed movement program to standard neuromuscular exercise in people with knee osteoarthritis. The main question it aims to answer are:

  1. Are the two interventions a) pain informed movement program plus pain neuroscience education and b) neuromuscular exercise plus standard osteoarthritis education feasible in terms of recruitment, treatment adherence, timelines, data collection procedures, patient follow-up, and resources required?
  2. Is there a difference in patient's satisfaction and acceptability of the two programs?
  3. Are there any differences in the potential effects of the two programs on subjective pain measures, self-reported function, quality of life, functional leg strength, nervous system pain modulation, brain derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor levels, and psychological factors?

Study Overview

Detailed Description

It is critical to understand the underlying mechanism of knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain in order to effectively manage knee OA. It has become clear that alterations in central and peripheral nervous system functioning occurs in people with knee OA and pain sensitization is a common feature. Descending modulation from the central nervous system can facilitate or inhibit nociception. Endogenous pain modulation through the descending system is an important factor as its dysregulation has significant ramifications in pain facilitation and promotion of chronic pain development and maintenance at all levels of the nervous system. The current guidelines lack focus on how to effectively manage it, which is a potential reason for why the current methods in conservative management of knee OA pain are only moderately effective. Mind-body approaches are uniquely positioned to potentially reverse the sensitization, induce positive neuroplastic changes, and improve descending pain modulation resulting in decreased pain intensity in many chronic pain populations. This study involves an exercise program which the investigators call 'Pain Informed Movement' that includes evidence-based exercises combined with mind-body techniques and pain neuroscience education. The data from this phase will be used to inform a multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the program's effectiveness with the primary outcome of change in pain severity mediated by change in descending pain modulation.

Exercise is regularly used as a first-line management option for knee OA, and its use is supported by high quality evidence to improve pain and function. Clinical practice guidelines for people with knee OA recommend the use of aerobic and strength training for the reduction of pain and improved physical function. Currently, one of the key components of conservative management of knee OA often implemented by clinicians is a type of exercise called neuromuscular exercise, which aims at improving sensorimotor control and the functionality of the knee joint by addressing movement in all three movement planes. Previous research has showed that the neuromuscular exercise programs designed specifically for knee OA can reduce pain, improve function, alter knee biomechanics, and improve the muscle-activation patterns of the surrounding knee musculature. While exercise is the first line treatment for knee OA and can lead to improvements in physical function and pain, it is important to highlight that it has a moderate effect, which may be short term.

In recent years multiple guidelines for non-surgical management of knee OA have begun to include mind-body therapies, such as yoga or tai-chi, as conditional or core treatment recommendations. Mind-body therapies can lead to pain reductions and improvement of function through various techniques. For instance, breathing exercises including breath awareness and regulation can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and decrease the danger signals of pain, leading to improvement of pain levels. Meditative breathing can lead to reductions in pain levels by modulating the somatosensory cortex. Relaxation techniques focused on relaxing the muscles that become tense as a result of pain and by association can re-enforce or aggravate pain, can influence the pain experience by reversing that association. Mindfulness meditation and mindful movement which can lead to a switch from sensory pain to the interoceptive awareness of the movements of the different body parts, resulting in reduced muscle tension, improvements in postural stability and proprioception, and reductions in pain levels. Mind-body therapies also lead to improvement of psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, increasing pain acceptance, changing patients' relationships to their pain, which in turn lead to reductions in pain levels. The positive effects of mindfulness practices have been reported to last in longer-term follow ups such as 15 months, and 3 years.

Education is another core component recommended by clinical guidelines and known to be effective particularly when combined with exercise. Pain Neuroscience education (PNE) is an alternative technique of teaching patients about pain and how to rethink and re-evaluate the way pain is viewed. The use of PNE in physical therapy interventions has been steadily increasing due to its positive effects on pain and function in many chronic pain patient populations. PNE includes an explanation of the neurophysiology of pain and its process by the nervous system. This includes how pain can be modulated through upregulation or downregulation of signals to increase or decrease the pain experience and that these changes are not necessarily related to tissue damage, particularly when pain becomes chronic. PNE also provides information regarding the influence of various psychosocial aspects. By offering avenues to reconceptualize pain as a threat to the body and movement as imminent danger, patients may become more willing to participate in physical activity and tolerate slight increases in pain and discomfort.

In contrast standard OA education is the traditional and most widely used educational model in people with knee OA, focuses heavily on a pathoanatomical perspective of pain referring mainly to anatomy, biomechanics, and patho-anatomy of OA and the knee joint.

Given the importance of finding effective management strategies for pain modulation in people with knee OA, there is a need to further our understanding of the impact of evidence-based exercise combined with mind-body techniques (e.g., breathing exercises and mindfulness) with PNE on pain mechanisms.

The study is a pilot RCT with a nested qualitative component. The study will be guided by the Conceptual Framework for Defining Feasibility and Pilot studies and the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Intervention Trials.

Study Population

A sample of 66 adults will be sought. The sample size is based on the primary outcome of complete follow-up using the confidence interval method for calculating sample size in pilot trials. 90% follow-up rate is the aim but the trial will be considered successful if 81% is achieved. To achieve a margin of error of 9%, with 10% added for attrition, 66 participants is required.

Recruitment Participants will be recruited through the email lists of the McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE) community and the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) newsletter. Postings will be placed on both PACE and MIRA social media pages. In addition, the study poster will be placed on other social media channels (i.e., Twitter, Facebook advertisements). In addition, flyers will be placed in local orthopaedic surgeon, Rheumatologist and Physiatrists offices. Physicians will provide potential participants with a one-page study information sheet in lay language. If interested, potential participants can then contact the research team through the contact information provided in the flyer.

Setting The in-person 8-week exercise program will be held twice weekly at McMaster University's Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE) located in the Ivor-Wynne Centre or in one of two local community churches. Participants will complete the pain assessment, and have blood drawn at PACE by PACE staff who are certified phlebotomists.

Assessment As part of participation in the study, participants will be asked to attend an assessment at the beginning of the study, and once again upon completing the 8-week exercise program. Participants will conditioned undergo pain modulation (CPM) and mechanical temporal summation testing, and the 30 Second Sit to Stand Test to determine leg strength and endurance. Lastly, participants will have their blood drawn (fasting) at the beginning and end of the study. Participants will then be asked to complete a series of questionnaires about their pain and mood.

Interventions Twice weekly group exercise sessions will be 75 minutes for the intervention group and 60 minutes in duration for the control group. The intervention arm class is slightly longer due to the detailed delivery of instructions for the techniques during the class. Participants will be given instructions to complete these exercises at home at least one other time during the week for the same duration. Participants will receive education videos that are ~15-20 minutes each week, for up to 4 weeks.

Pain Informed Movement and PNE - During the neuromuscular exercise sessions, the PNE components and concepts such as mindfulness, muscle tension regulation, and breathing techniques will be applied by the instructor.

Neuromuscular exercise and standard OA education - The exercise component (i.e., the specific movements) of this group will be similar to those of the intervention group without the added mind-body techniques.

Randomization and allocation concealment Participants will be randomized with an allocation ratio of 1:1 into one of two treatment groups (Pain informed movement and PNE versus neuromuscular exercise and standard OA education) using a REDCap randomization module. Following consent and completion of baseline assessment, the assessor (different person than the recruiter) will log in to the website, open the participants' identification record and click on the randomize button. Randomization will be blocked and this process will ensure allocation concealment. As allocation concealment occurs following the baseline assessment, the assessors will be blinded at baseline and follow up assessment. Blinding of instructors is generally not possible in studies of physical interventions (i.e., exercise). Participants will be blinded to study hypotheses and the two treatment groups. As both arms of the study are providing exercise based interventions and education, participants will be provided limited details of each intervention arm so as to blind them from knowing which is the intervention and which is the control. This will help minimize any bias that occurs by knowledge of group assignment and perception of treatment effects.

Exit Survey and Focus Group In addition to the primary and secondary outcomes, a satisfaction survey will be conducted at the end of the program to evaluate the a priori feasibility criteria. Participants who indicated upon initially consenting to the study that would like to participate in a focus group, will be contacted. Qualitative data collection will be used to explore participants experience and perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of the program. A focus group will be conducted using audio or video recording (using Zoom), lasting between 45-60 minutes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

69

Phase

  • 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

    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S1C7
        • McMaster University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - ≥40 years of age with diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis (OA) by a physician OR;
  • ≥45 years of age and having activity-related knee joint pain with or without morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes (NICE criteria)
  • Having an average pain intensity of 3/10 on a numeric pain scale on most days of the past month

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cannot communicate in English;
  • Has inflammatory arthritis or other systemic conditions;
  • Have had lower limb trauma or surgery within the past 6 months;
  • Have participated in a knee OA exercise program in the prior 3 months;
  • Have had any injection in the index knee within 3-months prior to baseline assessment
  • Does not have regular access to the internet
  • Inability to get up and down from the floor independently
  • Use of mobility aids
  • Currently participating in any other drug/device/exercise clinical trial related to OA
  • Planned absences (e.g., trips away) of >1 week
  • Currently receiving other forms of care for knee OA pain (e.g., from a physiotherapist, chiropractor, athletic therapist, kinesiologist)
  • Does not meet screening for safe participation in exercise according to the Get Active questionnaire from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pain Informed Movement and pain neuroscience education
Participants will receive a twice weekly, 8 week in-person group exercise program, consisting of exercise instruction (75 minutes) and pain neuroscience education (PNE) videos (20 to 30 minutes/week for the first 4 weeks). During the exercise sessions, the educational components and concepts such as mindfulness, muscle tension regulation, and breathing techniques will be applied by the instructor. A third home session (weekly) will be facilitated by exercise handout sheets. The exercise component will be delivered by an experienced yoga teacher that has been extensively trained. The PNE video component will cover the following topics: The purpose of pain, neurophysiological changes of pain, movement guidelines when pain persists, and self-care techniques to impact neurophysiology and support moving with ease that include breath awareness and regulation, muscle tension regulation, awareness of pain related thoughts and emotions, relaxation, and body awareness.
group classes twice weekly for 8 weeks of neuromuscular exercise in combination with mind-body techniques such as breath regulation, muscle tension regulation, relaxation, mindfulness, awareness of pain related thoughts and emotions.
The pain neuroscience education (PNE) will be delivered in videos addressing concepts such as the purpose of pain, neurophysiological changes of pain, movement guidelines when pain persists, and self-care techniques to impact neurophysiology and support moving with ease that include breath awareness and regulation, muscle tension regulation, awareness of pain related thoughts and emotions, relaxation, and body awareness.
Active Comparator: Standard neuromuscular exercise and OA education
Participants in this group will receive an 8-week in-person group exercise program held twice weekly, in which they will receive exercise instructions (60 minutes) and standard osteoarthritis (OA) education (15 to 20 minutes/week for the first 4 weeks). A third home session (weekly) will be facilitated by exercise handout sheets. The exercise component (i.e., the specific movements) of this group will be similar to those of the other group without the added techniques of breath awareness and regulation, muscle tension regulation, awareness of pain related thoughts and emotions, relaxation, and body awareness. The standard OA education videos will cover the following topics: common OA symptoms, risk factors associated with knee OA, and the effects of exercise and self-management tips. The exercise and education components will be delivered by a physiotherapist in the research team.
group classes twice weekly for 8 weeks of neuromuscular exercise.
The standard osteoarthritis (OA) education will address the following topics, OA prevalence, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, role of exercise, surgery, self-management

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Follow up
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The follow-up rate is calculated as the number (percentage) of participants who completed the study out of those who completed the baseline assessment.
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Considered the Program Useful and Very Useful
Time Frame: 8 weeks
the number of participants who found the program useful or very useful. Participants rated the program's usefulness on a Likert scale, ranging from "Not useful at all" to "Very useful." The final count reflects those who selected either of the top two response categories, indicating a positive perception of the program's value.
8 weeks
Number of Participants Who Considered the Program Frequent Enough
Time Frame: 8 weeks
This outcome measure represents the number of participants who rated the program's frequency as "Frequent enough" on a 5-point Likert scale. The scale ranged from "Not frequent enough" to "Frequent enough," capturing participants' satisfaction with the program's scheduling.
8 weeks
Number of Participants Who Considered the Educational Session Frequency Enough
Time Frame: 8 weeks
This outcome measure represents the number of participants who rated the frequency of the educational sessions as "Frequent enough" on a 5-point Likert scale. The scale ranged from "Not frequent enough" to "Frequent enough," assessing participants' satisfaction with the scheduling of the sessions.
8 weeks
Rate of Recruitment Measured by Number of People Recruited in a Year
Time Frame: 1 year
recruitment rate is a minimum of 40 people in a year
1 year
Percentage of Participants Who Did Not Find the Study Procedures Burdensome (Questionnaires, Tests, Blood Draws) Measured on 0-10 Scale
Time Frame: 8 weeks
This outcome measure represents the percentage of participants who rated the program's burdensomeness as zero, using a scale from 0 ("No burden at all") to 10 ("Very much a burden"). Participants who provided a low burden rating (≤3/10) are included in this percentage, indicating that they did not perceive the program as burdensome.
8 weeks
Rate of Adherence Measured by Number of Sessions Attended and Home Sessions Completed
Time Frame: 8 weeks
This outcome measure evaluates adherence to the program by calculating the number of sessions attended in-person and the number of home sessions completed by participants. The rate of adherence is determined by the proportion of sessions attended and completed relative to the total number of scheduled sessions.
8 weeks
Rate of Adverse Events Measured by Question Regarding Symptom Flare and Seeking Treatment
Time Frame: 8 weeks
measured as any problem that lasts for >2 days and/or causes the participant to seek other treatment
8 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
Weight
baseline and 8 weeks
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
13 questions for a total score of 52 with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. Minimum score = 0, maximum score 52
baseline and 8 weeks
30 Second Sit to Stand Test
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
to measure functional leg strength and endurance by counting the numbers of complete movements accomplished in the allotted time
baseline and 8 weeks
Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index
Time Frame: baseline
to assesses the presence of comorbidities minimum score = 0, maximum = 20 with higher scores indicating greater severity.
baseline
Participant Characteristics
Time Frame: baseline
Ethnicity
baseline
Number of Participants With Medication Use
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
This outcome measure represents the number of participants who reported taking any medication on a regular schedule. Medication use was assessed with a yes/no response, where participants indicated whether they consistently take any prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
baseline and 8 weeks
Perspectives on Knee Replacement Surgery
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
Three questions will be asked: 1. Are your knee symptoms so severe that you wish to undergo knee replacement surgery? 2. Do you think knee replacement surgery is eventually inevitable? 3. In your opinion, what factor(s) can lead to better outcomes after knee replacement surgery?
baseline and 8 weeks
Other Painful Body Parts
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
Using a body diagram, participants will be asked to indicate any other areas where they experience pain
baseline and 8 weeks
Mechanical Temporal Summation (TS)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
A 512mN weighted probe was applied at the volar wrist opposite to the index knee. Participants were asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst imaginable pain). Then, the same stimulus was applied 10 times at a rate of 1 per second (guided by a metronome), and participants were again asked to rate their pain. Temporal Summation (TS) was defined as present if the pain rating after the repeated stimuli was higher than the initial pain rating. The TS score was calculated as the difference between the pain rating after the repeated stimuli and the initial pain rating at each timepoint.
baseline and 8 weeks
Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) Measured With PPT Test Stimulus and Conditioning Stimulus of Forearm Ischemia
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
First stimulus of pressure pain threshold is delivered, next ischemic forearm test is conducted to a 4/10 and then PPT is repeated. An index will be created by calculating the percent efficiency of CPM (%CPM) as PPT2/PPT1, multiplied by 100; whereby %CPM ≤ 100 indicates inefficient pain modulation CPM. There are no standard minimum or maximum values.
baseline and 8 weeks
Pain Intensity Measured on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
This outcome measure assesses pain intensity using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where participants rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity. Three ratings are recorded: average pain intensity in the past 24 hours, average pain intensity in the past week, and worst pain intensity in the past 24 hours.
baseline and 8 weeks
Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SEMCD-6)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
measure of self-efficacy rated on 0-10 scale ranging from not at all confident to entirely confident
baseline and 8 weeks
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks

This outcome measure assesses symptoms of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS consists of 14 items, with seven items assessing anxiety (HADS-A) and seven assessing depression (HADS-D). Each item is scored on a 0 to 3 scale, resulting in total scores ranging from 0 to 21 for both anxiety and depression subscales.

Higher scores indicate greater levels of anxiety or depression,

baseline and 8 weeks
Brief Fear of Movement Scale for Osteoarthritis (BFMSO)
Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

This outcome measure assesses fear of movement (kinesiophobia) in individuals with osteoarthritis using the Brief Fear of Movement Scale for Osteoarthritis (BFMSO). The BFMSO consists of six items derived from the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1-4), with a total score range of 6 to 24, where higher scores indicate greater levels of kinesiophobia.

The scale evaluates concerns about movement due to pain or the fear of worsening symptoms, providing insight into the psychological barriers that may affect physical activity and rehabilitation adherence in individuals with osteoarthritis.

Baseline and 8 weeks
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
The KOOS pain and function in daily living and QoL subscales were used to assess self-reported opinions about patients' knee and associated problems. Scores ranged from 0-100 with zero representing extreme knee problems and 100 representing no knee problems
baseline and 8 weeks
Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) Knee Version
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks

The ICOAP (Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain) Knee Version assesses two distinct types of knee pain: constant pain and intermittent pain. The constant pain subscale consists of five items that evaluate pain that is present all the time. Each item is rated on a scale from 0 to 4, where 0 represents no pain, 1 indicates mild pain, 2 corresponds to moderate pain, 3 signifies severe pain, and 4 represents extreme pain. The total score for this subscale ranges from 0 to 20, with higher scores reflecting greater pain severity.

Similarly, the intermittent pain subscale comprises six items that assess pain that comes and goes in episodes. Each item follows the same 0 to 4 rating scale, capturing the intensity of episodic pain experiences. The total score for this subscale ranges from 0 to 24. The overall ICOAP knee score is the sum of both subscales, resulting in a total score range of 0 to 44, where higher scores indicate more severe and impactful knee pain.

baseline and 8 weeks
Serum Levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF) Via Blood Analysis
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
a neurotrophin level measured in pg/ml
baseline and 8 weeks
Serum Levels of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Via Blood Analysis
Time Frame: baseline and 8 weeks
a neurotrophin level measured in pg/ml
baseline and 8 weeks
Perspectives on the Effectiveness of the Different Intervention Components on Managing Pain
Time Frame: 8 weeks
One question will be asked of participants in each arm to rank the effectiveness of the different components of the intervention they received. e.g. "Please rank the different components of the intervention you received in order of how effective they are for managing your pain." A list of the different components in each study arm will be provided e.g. education videos, strengthening exercise, mind-body techniques
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lisa Carlesso, PhD, McMaster University

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

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)

April 3, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 3, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

December 3, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 6, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 7, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

February 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 27, 2025

Last Verified

November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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