---
title: Microcurrent Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee
nct_id: NCT02975154
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Osteoarthritis,Knee
countries: Germany
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT02975154.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02975154"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2017-10-12
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:21:23.185Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Microcurrent Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

**Official Title:** Microcurrent Therapy in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

**NCT ID:** [NCT02975154](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02975154)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 56
- **Lead Sponsor:** Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich
- **Collaborators:** Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
- **Conditions:** Osteoarthritis,Knee
- **Start Date:** 2016-12-05
- **Completion Date:** 2017-09-04
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2017-10-12

## Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effect of Microcurrent Therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients will be randomized to four groups: Group 1 and 2 both will receive Microcurrent Therapy, but different currents will be used. Group 3 will receive treatment with the Microcurrent treatment apparatus, but without any current. Group 4 will be a control group without specific interventions.

## Detailed Description

The objective of this randomized, controlled pilot study is to evaluate the effect of Microcurrent therapy on pain and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The secondary objective is to compare the effects of different currents. Patients will be randomized to four groups: Group 1 and 2 both will receive Microcurrent Therapy, but different currents will be used. Group 3 will receive treatment with the Microcurrent treatment apparatus, but without any current. Group 4 will be a control group without specific intervention.

Group 1, 2 and 3 will receive 10 sessions of treatment in a treatment phase of four weeks. Assessments for group 1, 2, and 3 will be scheduled for screening (T0), at the first day of treatment (T1), at the end of treatment (T2) and three months after the end of treatment (T3). Group 4 will be assessed at a screening visit T0, at T1, at T2 (approximately 21 days after T1), and at T3 (three months after T2). Patients will be recruited based on the records of the clinic.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* osteoarthritis of the knee
* pain intensity \> 3 on the numerical rating scale (0-10)

Exclusion Criteria:

* knee arthroplasty
* gravity
* dermal Irritation at the skin of the knee
* carcinoma
* known osteoarthritis grade 4 (Kellgren and Lawrence score)
```

## Arms

- **Microcurrent therapy, type A** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR) — Microcurrent therapy: Channel A: 100 µA; 200 Hz; Channel B: 100 µA; 300 Hz. Duration of each treatment session: 30 minutes. Number of sessions: 10.

Previous treatments will be continued.
- **Microcurrent therapy, type B** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR) — Microcurrent therapy: Channel A: 25 µA; 200 Hz; Channel B: 100 µA; 300 Hz. Duration of each treatment session: 30 minutes. Number of sessions: 10. Previous treatments will be continued.
- **Sham Microcurrent therapy** (SHAM_COMPARATOR) — Microcurrent therapy: Channel A: 0 µA; 0 Hz; Channel B: 0 µA; 0 Hz. Duration of each treatment session: 30 minutes. Number of sessions: 10. Previous treatments will be continued.
- **No Intervention** (NO_INTERVENTION) — No Intervention. Previous treatments will be continued.

## Interventions

- **Microcurrent therapy** (DEVICE) — The microcurrent therapy will be applied with electrodes that are fixed around the knee. The two electrodes of channel A will be placed at the inner and outer side of the knee that is most affected by pain. The two electrodes of channel B will be placed above and below the patella. An apparatus with CE certificate will be used.

## Primary Outcomes

- **Numerical Ratings scale (NRS) for pain (0-10)** _(time frame: Change of NRS: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_ — numerical Rating scale

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score** _(time frame: Change of scores: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_
- **Short-Form 36** _(time frame: Change of scores: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_
- **Satisfaction with Treatment (Questionnaire)** _(time frame: Evaluation at the end of treatment (in average 21 days after Start of treatment))_
- **Range of Motion knee joint** _(time frame: Change: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_
- **Get-up-and-Go-Test (GUG)** _(time frame: Change: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_
- **6-minute walking test** _(time frame: Change: Before treatment vs. end of treatment (in average 21 days later))_

## Locations (1)

- Ludwig Maximilian University, University Hosipital, Department of Orthopedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Munich, Germany

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.ludwig maximilian university, university hosipital, department of orthopedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation|munich||germany` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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