An interventional study of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music and Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome in Knee Osteoarthritis, sponsored by Boston University Charles River Campus. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 50 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-28.
Sponsored by Boston University Charles River Campus · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
The purpose of this research study is to compare muscle activation, changes in pain sensitivity, and brain function, between different walking conditions, including walking to music, walking to metronome, and walking without music or metronome.
Participants with knee osteoarthritis (OA) will complete a single study visit which will include three walking tasks, each being 25 minutes in duration. The walking tasks will include walking without music or metronome, walking to metronome, and walking with music. Participants muscle activity, brain activity, and movements will be recorded during these tasks. Participant's pressure pain threshold will be recorded at the beginning and after each task.
Exclusion Criteria:
All participants will be exposed to different walking conditions including music, metronome, and no music or metronome
Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music · Behavioral: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome · Behavioral: Control
Walking to rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with music
walking to rhythmic Auditory Stimulation with metronome
Walking to no music or metronome
Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH)
Change in pressure pain threshold (PPT) from baseline to after each walking task
Time frame: Baseline
medial quadriceps - medial hamstrings muscle coactivation
Medial quadriceps-medial hamstrings muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Time frame: Baseline
Medial quadriceps- medial gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Medial quadriceps-medial gastrocnemius muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Time frame: Baseline
lateral quadriceps- lateral hamstrings muscle coactivation
Lateral quadriceps-lateral hamstrings muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Time frame: Baseline
lateral quadriceps - lateral gastrocnemius muscle coactivation
Lateral quadriceps-lateral gastrocnemoius muscle co-activation in each walking task will be assessed using surface electromyography
Time frame: Baseline
Prefrontal cortex activation
Prefrontal cortex (PFC) brain activation during each walking task will be assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Time frame: Baseline
Supplementary Motor Area activation
Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) brain activation during each walking task will be assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Time frame: Baseline
Auditory-motor synchronization
difference between actual cadence and target cadence in each walking ask (except walking to no music or metronome)
Time frame: Baseline
physical activity enjoyment
Modified Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) score after each walking task. Range is 7-49 with higher scores indicating greater enjoyment.
Time frame: Baseline
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Yes — Requests will be considered on an individual basis
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Boston University Charles River Campus