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Stimulation of Peripheral Afferents to Reduce Muscle Inhibition at the Knee
Sponsor: Northeastern University
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability, and the muscle weakness that limits walking in this population arises not only from the joint itself but from afferent signals that inhibit motor drive to the thigh muscle, which is why exercise alone so often produces incomplete recovery. This project examines whether brief, non-invasive electrical stimulation of a nerve behind the knee can reduce inhibition and restore muscle coordination while walking in adults with knee osteoarthritis. Establishing this effect would identify a modifiable neural target that current rehabilitation does not address, with the potential to improve physical function and independence for the millions of adults living with this condition.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
45 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
50
Start Date
2026-09
Completion Date
2027-09
Last Updated
2026-09-22
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Peripheral Electrical Stimulation (PES)
Participants will receive a single session intervention of single pulses of electrical stimulation to the tibial nerve at a below motor threshold intensity. These pulses will be delivered with a pulse width of 1000 microseconds, delivered at 20 Hz frequency. This intervention will last approximately 30 minutes and deliver 24,000 stimulation pulses.
Paired Pulse Electrical Stimulation (ppES)
Participants will receive a single session intervention of pairs of electrical stimulation pulses delivered to the tibial nerve. These pairs will use pulses of 1000 microseconds duration, separated by a 5 millisecond interstimulus interval, delivered at a frequency of 10Hz. Participants will receive 12,000 stimulation pairs during an intervention lasting approximately 30 minutes.