Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 14 million Americans, causing pain and stiffness as cartilage wears away. Current treatments include pain relievers, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and eventually joint replacement. Research is now focused on slowing cartilage loss, reducing inflammation, and helping people delay or avoid surgery.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing regenerative approaches like platelet-rich plasma and stem cells, new anti-inflammatory drugs including monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies that may rebuild cartilage, and improved viscosupplementation injections. Researchers are also studying weight loss medications, pain management strategies, and ways to predict who will progress quickly.
Regenerative therapies
Studies are testing stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and growth factors injected into the knee to stimulate cartilage repair. Early results suggest some people experience pain relief and possibly slower progression.
Anti-inflammatory biologics
Monoclonal antibodies targeting specific inflammation pathways are being tested to see if blocking these signals can reduce pain and preserve cartilage. Some are adapted from drugs already used in rheumatoid arthritis.
Gene therapy approaches
Experimental gene therapies deliver instructions directly into knee tissue to produce anti-inflammatory proteins or growth factors. The goal is sustained cartilage protection from a single injection.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on severity of cartilage damage (usually confirmed by X-ray or MRI), pain level, prior treatments tried, body mass index, and whether you've had knee surgery.
What types of trials are currently open
- Injection trials — Testing stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, or other substances injected into the knee to reduce pain or slow cartilage breakdown.
- Drug trials — Testing new oral or injected medications that target inflammation, pain pathways, or cartilage metabolism.
- Device and procedure trials — Studying surgical techniques, braces, nerve stimulation devices, or other non-drug approaches to manage pain and improve function.
- Lifestyle intervention trials — Testing structured exercise programs, weight loss interventions, or dietary approaches to slow disease progression.
- Observational studies — Following people with knee osteoarthritis over time to understand how the disease progresses, what factors predict outcomes, and how treatments perform in real-world use.
Recently added Knee Osteoarthritis trials
Knee Ligament Stiffness Across Ethnicities Before and After Osteoarthritis Treatment
This prospective clinical study aims to establish normative values of knee ligament stiffness across different ethnic populations using shear wave elastography (SWE) and to investigate biomechanical alterations associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Healthy adults and patients with symptomatic knee OA will undergo standardized SWE examinations of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), together with clinical assessments. For patients who subsequently receive clinically indicated ultrasound-guided injection therapy, follow-up SWE and clinical evaluations will be performed to investigate changes in ligament stiffness after treatment.
Effects of Pressure Biofeedback Training Versus Bolster Foam Roll Training for Pain, Muscles Activation, and Quality of Life Among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients
The current study will be a single-blinded, two-arm parallel group randomized clinical trial involving 48 participants. The trial will compare Pressure Biofeedback training with Bolster Foam Roll training. Interventions will be delivered three times per week for eight weeks. The primary outcomes will include pain intensity, functional status, and muscle activation. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (week 0), mid-intervention (week 4), post-intervention (week 8), and follow-up (week 12). The study will be conducted at the outpatient departments of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) and Mayo Hospital Lahore. The hypothesis is that there is a difference between Pressure Biofeedback Training and Bolster Foam Feedback Training regarding pain reduction, muscle activation, and patient-reported quality of life compared to Bolster Foam rolling training among knee osteoarthritis patients.
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