Brain zaps and PT: a new hope for chronic knee pain?

NCT ID NCT06132412

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests whether adding a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS to personalized physical therapy can reduce pain and improve function in people with chronic knee pain. Thirty adults with knee pain lasting over 3 months will receive either real or fake tDCS alongside PT for 8 sessions. Researchers will measure pain, walking ability, and strength to see if the combination works better than PT alone.

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)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new way to treat chronic knee pain by combining brain stimulation with physical therapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small early-stage study with only 30 people, so results may not apply to everyone. tDCS may cause skin irritation or discomfort.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

KNEE PAIN CHRONIC

Contacts and locations

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Locations

University of Illinois Hospital

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

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