Table 1. Baseline characteristics of participants (mean and standard deviation).
| Active tDCS + Exercise (N = 15) | Sham tDCS + Exercise (N = 15) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (year) | 59.8±9.1 | 64.1±11.1 |
| Gender (male/female) | 4/11 | 6/9 |
| Height (metre) | 1.6±0.08 | 1.6±0.11 |
| Weight (kg) | 89.0±13.3 | 84.5±16.4 |
| Body Mass Index (kg/metre2) | 31.3±3.5 | 30.5±9.1 |
| Duration of symptoms (years) | 7.2±5.3 | 9±7.3 |
| Previous knee arthroscopy | 4 | 6 |
| Bilateral OA knee pain | 12 | 10 |
| Side of worst knee pain (left/right) | 4/11 | 8/7 |
| Willingness to undergo treatment at baseline (out of 10) | 9.4±1.1 | 9.8±0.3 |
| Expected treatment effects | ||
| Minimal improvement | 3(20%) | 1(6%) |
| Moderate improvement | 6(40%) | 7(47%) |
| Large improvement | 6(40%) | 7(47%) |
| Pain on walking (visual analog scale, 100 mm) | 59.8±15.2 | 56.4±19.7 |
| WOMAC Total score | 55±16.0 | 48±10.7 |
| Pain | 11±3.9 | 9.9±3.2 |
| Physical function | 38.8±11.9 | 33.2±7.7 |
WOMAC = Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index.