NCT07054840 Pain and Split-belt Motor Learning in Older Adults
| NCT ID | NCT07054840 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Delaware |
| Condition | Aging |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 34 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-08-26 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-05-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 34 participants in total. It began in 2025-08-26 with a primary completion date of 2026-05-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of acute pain, induced using an experimental pain paradigm of capsaicin paired with heat, on implicit locomotor learning and its retention in older adults.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 55-90 years old * Self-identifying as generally medically healthy * Able to read, write and speak English * Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions * Willing to undergo the experimental pain paradigm, if selected Exclusion Criteria: * Resting heart rate \< 50 or \> 100 bpm * Resting blood pressure \< 90/60 or \> 165/95 * Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. (Mild to moderate treated ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and/or depression are allowed.) * Score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<23 * Score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale ≥ 10 * Score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 ≥ 2 and score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10 * Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or peripheral vascular disease) * Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity * History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan * Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months * Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health is allowed) * Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with an intensity of \> 2/10 * Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers * Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus * Significant skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat * Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus * Prior participation in a split-belt locomotor learning study in the Neuromotor Behavior Lab in the past 2 years
Contact & Investigator
Susanne Morton
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Delaware
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07054840 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 55 Years or older, up to 90 Years, studying Aging. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07054840 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07054840 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at RNP-Lab@udel.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07054840 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Newark, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07054840 clinical trial?
NCT07054840 is sponsored by University of Delaware. The principal investigator is Susanne Morton at University of Delaware. The trial plans to enroll 34 participants.