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A Randomized Pilot rTMS Trial for Knee Arthritis Pain and Depression
NCT06906939 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major public health problem, and involvement of the knee is especially disabling. Symptomatic knee OA has an incidence rate between 40 to 1,020 per 100,000 person years1 and is among the most common causes of disability worldwide. Knee arthritis pain and disability are highly comorbid wiht depression (30-50%). Currently available treatments offer only limited relief. The Pilot project aims to establish feasibility of the rTMS neuromodulation of response to Tai Chi and improvement in pain and comorbid depression in patients with knee OA. There are several ways in which the pilot project will improve scientific knowledge, and clinical practice: 1) The sequential stimulation of two targets (M1 and l-DLPFC) has not been systematically examined for the treatment of comorbid MDD and knee OA. We hypothesize that using a multi-target rTMS strategy combining M1 and l-DLPFC- active targets will be well tolerated and more effective to treat comorbid symptoms than single site rTMS to M1+l-DLPFCsham. This hypothesis will be tested in Aim 1 of this proposal by comparing two experimental conditions: A) M1active and l-DLPFCactive; and B) M1active and l-DLPFCsham. 2) Identifying the relationship between improvement in pain and depression to improvement in pro-inflammatory cytokines would be novel. Adding an rTMS as a neuromodulation technique with novel stimulation sites to assist in the reduction of symptoms of pain and depression is another scalable to clinical use opportunity that will provide pilot data for future clinical trials. We will perform a pilot feasibility trial of rTMS for those presenting with knee osteoarthritis related pain and moderate to severe depression in 30 volunteers who are undergoing Tai Chi intervention. Tolerability and safety of rTMS added to Tai Chi will be assessed along with changes in symptoms of pain and depression, in preparation to future R-01 applications.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Study Locations (1)
California
- UCLA Semel Institute - Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI) — Los Angeles
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 30 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-04-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2029-06-30 |
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT06906939
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT06906939 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. It is categorized as Early Phase 1, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 30 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of California, Los Angeles, which has 829 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 2 conditions, with Depression appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT06906939 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include California. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT06906939 about?
NCT06906939 is a clinical study titled "A Randomized Pilot rTMS Trial for Knee Arthritis Pain and Depression". Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major public health problem, and involvement of the knee is especially disabling. Symptomatic knee OA has an incidence rate between 40 to 1,020 per 100,000 person years1 and is among the most common causes of disability worldwide. Knee arthritis pain and disability are highl...
What is the current status of trial NCT06906939?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a Early Phase 1 study. The enrollment target is 30 participants. The study started on 2026-04-01. Estimated completion is 2029-06-30.
What conditions does trial NCT06906939 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Depression, Knee Osteoarthritis. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT06906939?
The interventions under investigation include: repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT06906939?
This trial is sponsored by University of California, Los Angeles, which has 829 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT06906939 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across California. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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