Could a headset ease knee surgery pain? new trial tests Home-Based brain zaps

NCT ID NCT07351578

First seen Jan 20, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 26 times

Summary

This pilot study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can help people recover better after total knee replacement surgery. The device delivers a mild electrical current to the scalp to reduce pain and opioid use. The study will enroll 70 adults scheduled for knee replacement and will assess whether the home-based tDCS protocol is feasible and acceptable.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Toronto Western Hospital (UHN)

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device

What this could lead to

If it works, this could provide a non-drug, at-home method to manage pain after knee replacement and lower the risk of long-term pain.

What could go wrong

This is a small pilot study testing feasibility, not effectiveness. The approach is experimental and may not reduce pain or opioid use in practice.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

osteoarthritis, knee Pain, Postoperative

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.