Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Older Persons With Knee Pain (Knee Pain and tDCS): Randomized Pilot Study

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis

Interventions: Device: Active tDCS
Device: Sham tDCS

Registration Number: NCT02512393

Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Brief Summary: The purpose of this research is to study the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on clinical pain, mobility disability, and pain sensitivity to gain a better understanding of the factors that cause pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, people from different ethnic and racial groups may experience OA pain differently which is why the focus will be on older Asian Americans and non-Hispanic whites. It is important to find a reason for such difference so that a better treatment can be found for all OA patients. In addition, the research study will examine if there is any ethnic differences in pain and mobility disability. The investigator hypothesize that Asian Americans will report greater pain and mobility disability than non-Hispanic whites, and that active tDCS will result in improvement in pain and disability compared to sham tDCS.

Detailed Description: If you participate in the study, the following will happen:

Randomized into one of two groups. Which will either receive the full length session of brain stimulation or a much shorter session of brain stimulation. The shorter version of stimulation looks like and is performed in the same way as the longer electrical stimulation session, but stimulation is stopped before it can have much of an effect on the brain. You will not know which group you have been assigned to while participating in the research, but you may find out at the completion of the research study.

X-Rays will be done on both knees while standing up.

Questionnaires about arthritis pain you are having, your thoughts and feelings about it, and any stress that you may have experienced.

Walking Test will be performed on a flat surface for 6 minutes at a fast pace without help from an assistive device (cane or walker) or another person.

Assessment of Physical Performance requires walking at short distance (about 13 feet), stand up from a chair 5 times without using your arms, and stand in 3 different positions while keeping your balance.

Assessment of Sensitivity to Heat. Heat pain sensitivity will be tested using a commercially available thermal sensory testing machine (Medoc, Inc.) used widely in clinical settings. This machine has a small (about 1 inch by 1 inch) square piece that is used to apply heat to the skin. Heat will be applied to the knees and arms. The amount of heat is controlled by a computer. One or more of the following types of heat stimuli will be delivered: 1) a slowly increasing heat that can be stopped by pressing a button when it becomes warm, painful, or intolerable; 2) a series of 5-10 heat pulses that are brief (less than 2 seconds in duration), and rate how painful each heat pulse feels; and 3) a few longer heat pulses (15-30 seconds) at different temperatures to rate how painful each heat pulse feels. The procedures can be stop at any time.

Assessment of Sensitivity to Pressure will be done using a handheld device with a small rubber tip to apply pressure to the knee, thigh, and shoulder.

Assessment of Sensitivity to Mechanical Stimulation will be done using a handheld probe that has a small nylon tip to tap both the knee and hand.

Blood Draw: Blood will be taken at the baseline visit and at the last visit.

Brain Stimulation: The stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and it involves placing two sponge-like electrodes on your head and delivering a very weak electrical current to your scalp, which is generated by a 9 volt battery.

In addition, weekly phone calls will be done for the next 3 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

they have self-reported unilateral or bilateral knee OA pain according to American College of Rheumatology criteria
they can understand, speak and read English
they are able to walk for 6-minutes
they are willing to be randomized to either the intervention or control group
they are available for five consecutive daily sessions and for a follow-up phone interview each week for three weeks post-stimulation sessions
they have no plan to change medication regimens for pain throughout the trial
they are willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

knee replacement or non-arthroscopic surgery to the affected knee
serious medical illness, such as uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., Systolic Blood Pressure/Diastolic Blood Pressure of ≥ 150/95), congestive heart failure, pacemaker, or history of acute myocardial infarction
peripheral neuropathy
systemic rheumatic disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and fibromyalgia
alcohol/substance abuse
cognitive impairment (i.e., Mini-Mental Status Exam score ≤ 23)
history of brain surgery, tumor, seizure, stroke, or intracranial metal implantation
pregnancy or lactation for females
hospitalization within the preceding year due to psychiatric illness

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active tDCS	Active tDCS	This group will receive five daily sessions of 2mA, 20 minutes of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The anode electrode will be placed over M1 (C3 or C4 according to the 10-20 system for EEG electrode placement) of the hemisphere contralateral to the affected knee, and the cathode electrode will be placed over the supraorbital region (SO) ipsilateral to the affected knee (M1-SO montage). In addition, the following test will performed: X-Rays, Walking Test, Assessment of Physical Performance, Assessment of Sensitivity to Heat, Assessment of Sensitivity to Pressure, Assessment of Sensitivity to Mechanical Stimulation, Assessment of balance, chair stand, and gait speed, Assessment of conditioned pain modulation, and Blood test.
Sham tDCS	Sham tDCS	This group will receive five daily sessions of 2mA, current for 30 seconds tDCS. The anode electrode will be placed over M1 (C3 or C4 according to the 10-20 system for EEG electrode placement) of the hemisphere contralateral to the affected knee, and the cathode electrode will be placed over the supraorbital region (SO) ipsilateral to the affected knee (M1-SO montage). In addition, the following test will performed: X-Rays, Walking Test, Assessment of Physical Performance, Assessment of Sensitivity to Heat, Assessment of Sensitivity to Pressure, Assessment of Sensitivity to Mechanical Stimulation, Assessment of balance, chair stand, Assessment of conditioned pain modulation, and gait speed and Blood test.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pressure Pain Threshold	day 5	Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) by using pressure pain delivered by a hand-held algometer.
Heat Pain Tolerance	day 5	Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) by using heat pain delivered by using thermal probe on the skin.
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) Intermittent Pain Subscale	day 5	This is a index to rate the activity of pain based on a scale of difficulty: 0 = None, 1 = Mild, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Severe, 4 = Extreme. The higher the score, the worse the pain.
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) Neuropathic Pain Subscale	day 5	This is a questionnaire to rate the pain intensity and related symptoms on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being none and 10 being the worst possible. The higher the score the worse the pain.
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for Pain	day 5	Numeric Rating Scale for pain is an 101-point scale for patient self-reporting of pain on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being no pain at all and 100 being the worst pain imaginable. The higher the score the worse the pain.
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain Subscale	day 5	This is a index to rate the activity of pain, stiffness, and physical function based on a scale of difficulty: 0 = None, 1 = Mild, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Severe, 4 = Extreme; subscales are added up for a summation score. The higher the score, the worse the pain.
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) Continuous Pain Subscale	day 5	This is a questionnaire to rate the pain intensity and related symptoms on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being none and 10 being the worst possible. The higher the score the worse the pain.
Six-minute Walk Test	day 5	The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The goal is for the individual to walk as far as possible in six minutes. The individual is allowed to self-pace and rest as needed as they traverse back and forth along a marked walkway. The lower the score the worse the condition.
Punctate Mechanical Pain Sensitivity	day 5	Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) by using punctate mechanical pain delivered by a calibrated nylon monofilament.
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2) Affective Pain Subscale	day 5	This is a questionnaire to rate the pain intensity and related symptoms on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being none and 10 being the worst possible. The higher the score the worse the pain.
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)	day 5	This is a group of measures that combines the results of the gait speed, chair stand, and balance tests. The score ranges from 0 (worst performance) to 12 (best performance).
Heat Pain Threshold	day 5	Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) by using heat pain delivered by using thermal probe on the skin.
Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM)	day 5	Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) will be done by using a cold pressor procedure on the skin. The measure is scored on a scale, which ranges from zero to infinity. A higher CPM score indicates higher pain inhibition.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Endorphin Level	day 5
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) Level	day 5
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Level	day 5
Cortisol Level	day 5
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) Level	day 5
C-reactive Protein (CRP) Level	day 5