Research

Project Title: Exploring the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation to the ear on pain, central pain mechanisms, and parasympathetic function in people with knee osteoarthritis

The overall purpose of the study is to test an innovative intervention to reduce symptoms related to pain in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We apply non-invasive and mild electrical stimulation the ear to see if increased pain perception in the brain, parasympathetic function, and knee pain change among people with knee osteoarthritis or chronic knee pain.

This study will last approximately 2.5 hours and participants’ time will be compensated with $40.

If you are interested, please contact primeptlab@utep.edu, or complete a short survey to see if you are eligible for this study via this link: https://utep.questionpro.com/t/AWRKBZuf0e

• Peer-reviewed publications
  • Aoyagi K., Wang N., Carlesso L., Frey-Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T. (2023). Post-surgical contributors to persistent knee pain following knee replacement: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST), Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2023 Jan 18;5(1): 100335 PMID: 36798734; PMCID: PMC9926203.
  • Kumar D, Neogi T, Peloquin C, Marinko L, Camarinos J, Aoyagi K, Felson DT, Dubreuil M. (2023). Delayed timing of physical therapy initiation increases the risk of future opioid use in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a real-world cohort study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106044. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36822841.
  • Aoyagi, K., He, J., Clauw, D. J., & Sharma, N. K. (2022). Sleep quality in individuals with chronic low back pain and central sensitization. Physiotherapy Research International, e1968.
  • Aoyagi K., Liew JW., Farrar JT., Wang N., Carlesso L., Kumar D., Frey Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T.(2022) Does weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing pain reflect different pain mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis?: the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2022 Apr;30(4):545-550
  • Aoyagi K., Neogi T., Peloquin C., Marinko L., Camarinos J., Stokes A., Felson DT., Dubreuil M., Kumar D. (2021), Relation of Physical Therapy to Chronic Opioid Use Following Total Knee Replacement, JAMA Network Open JAMA 2021;4(10):e2131271
  • Sharma, N. K, Aoyagi, K, Crouch Young, M. K, Parrish, A., Smith, C, Burton, D. C., ... & Colgrove, Y. (2021), Protocol for Testing Yoga to Reduce Post–Lumbar Spine Surgery Pain: A Methodology Article. International Journal of Yoga Therapy.
  • Aoyagi, K, Sharma, N. K. (2021), Correlation between central sensitization and remote muscle performance in individuals with chronic low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 44(1), 14-24.
  • Mehyar F, Wilson SE, Staggs VS, Aoyagi K, Sharma NK. (2020), Quantifying Lumbar Mobilization With Inertial Measurement Unit. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. Feb;43(2):114-122.
  • Courtney, C. A., Aoyagi, K., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., Madeleine, P. (2020), Bilateral sensory deficits and widespread hyperalgesia occur following induced delayed onset muscle soreness of the quadriceps. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 15(1), 12.
  • Aoyagi, K., He, J., Simpson, M., Melton, B. L., Chandaka, S., Waitman, L. R., & Sharma, N. K. (2020), Association between Opioid Dose, Acute Post‐operative Pain and Walking Distance Following Lumbar Spine Surgery.  Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics,  45(1), 169-178.
  • Aoyagi K, He J, Clauw DJ, Nicol AL, Kluding PM, Jernigan S, Sharma NK, (2019), A Subgroup of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients with Central Sensitization, Clinical Journal of Pain,35(11), 869-879.
  • Aoyagi, K., Heller, D., Hazlewood, D., Sharma, N., & Dos Santos, M (2019), Is spinal mobilization effective for low back pain?: A systematic review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 34, 51.
• Selected International and National Conference Presentations
  • Aoyagi K., Wang N., Frey-Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T. (2022). Longitudinal Trajectories of Pain Sensitization in People with or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis, American Physical Therapy Association, 2023 Combined Section Meeting (CSM)
  • Aoyagi K., Wang N., Frey-Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T. (2022). Longitudinal Trajectories of Central Pain Sensitization in People with or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis, American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2022
  • Aoyagi K., Carlesso L., Wang N., Frey-Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T. (2022). Longitudinal Relation of Central Pain Sensitization to Development of Inefficient Descending Pain Inhibition in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). 2022 OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis
  • Aoyagi K. (2021). Central Pain Mechanisms in Chronic Pain, A Short Review. The 32nd Japanese Society for Musculoskeletal Medicine (Annual Meeting), Fukuoka, Japan
  • Aoyagi K., Jafarzadeh RS., LaValley M., Wang N., Carlesso L., Frey-Law L., Lewis CE., Nevitt M., Neogi T. (2020). Development of a Pain Sensitivity Index to Examine the Transition from Intermittent to Constant Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2020