Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 14 million Americans, making it the most common joint disease. Current treatments focus on pain relief and slowing damage — NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, weight management, and eventual joint replacement. No approved drug reverses cartilage loss, though several are in testing.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that aim to rebuild cartilage or slow its breakdown, including sprifermin and other growth factors. Pain studies examine nerve ablation, genicular nerve blocks, and extended-release injections. Gene therapy and cell-based treatments are being tested to regenerate damaged tissue. Researchers are also studying ways to predict who will progress rapidly.
Cartilage regeneration
Sprifermin, a growth factor injected into the knee, showed cartilage thickness gains in earlier trials. Ongoing studies are testing whether those structural changes translate to preserved function and delayed surgery.
Nerve ablation
Radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerves blocks pain signals from the knee. Several trials are refining the technique and measuring how long pain relief lasts compared to standard injections.
Cell therapy
Trials are testing injections of stem cells or cartilage cells to repair damaged areas. Early results vary, and researchers are working to identify which patients and which cell types see the most benefit.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on severity of cartilage loss (often Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3), pain level, age, BMI, and whether prior treatments like corticosteroid injections have been tried.
What types of trials are currently open
- Disease-modifying trials — Testing drugs that aim to slow cartilage breakdown or promote regrowth, measured by MRI and X-ray over one to two years.
- Pain management trials — Testing new injection formulations, nerve blocks, or ablation techniques to reduce knee pain without surgery.
- Cell and gene therapy trials — Testing stem cells, cartilage cells, or gene therapy injected into the knee to regenerate tissue.
- Device trials — Testing braces, unloader braces, or implantable devices that reduce stress on damaged cartilage.
- Observational studies — Following people with knee osteoarthritis to understand what predicts rapid progression and who benefits most from different treatments.
Recently added Osteoarthritis, Knee trials
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.
Preoperative Genicular Radiofrequency and Functional Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage wear, leading to pain, stiffness, and joint swelling. It is highly prevalent in aging populations and is strongly associated with obesity and previous joint injury. OA affects millions of individuals worldwide, with incidence and prevalence increasing markedly with age and resulting in significant functional disability The primary therapeutic goals in the management of knee osteoarthritis are pain reduction and improvement of joint mobility. Total knee arthroplasty is considered one of the most effective surgical interventions for relieving pain and restoring function in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, residual pain and limited functional improvement remain the most frequent causes of patient dissatisfaction following TKA Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (GNRFA) has emerged as an innovative treatment option for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. This technique has been shown to reduce pain and improve function, with clinical benefits often observed as early as one week after treatment. GNRFA consistently provides short-term pain relief (3 to 6 months) and, in some cases, longer-lasting benefits. The hypothesis tested in this study is whether GNRFA performed at least two weeks preoperatively can reduce postoperative pain and improve postoperative function.
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