Smartwatch could read your pain: new study tests wearable for knee arthritis

NCT ID NCT06701461

Not yet recruiting Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study will test whether a smartwatch can measure pain levels in 15 people with knee osteoarthritis. Participants will wear an Embrace Plus smartwatch that tracks electrodermal activity (skin signals) while reporting their pain during standard physical tests. The goal is to see if the watch can reliably detect pain, paving the way for larger studies.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Embrace Plus smartwatch (electrodermal activity sensor)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to a simple, wearable way to track pain objectively in osteoarthritis patients, improving pain management.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study (15 people) testing feasibility only. The smartwatch may not reliably capture pain signals, and results may not apply to broader populations.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for OSTEO ARTHRITIS KNEE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

osteoarthritis osteoarthritis, knee Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

OSTEO ARTHRITIS KNEE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.