Online Yoga vs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Musculoskeletal Pain; Chronic Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Behavioral: Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06704061

BAYNEW0004

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will compare online yoga with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an established treatment for chronic pain. We will compare the efficacy of the two treatments for reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans.

Full description

This study will test if online yoga is not inferior than ACT for treating chronic pain in veterans. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either online yoga instruction or ACT, once a week for 12 weeks in an online group class. They will complete self-report questionnaires about their experience of chronic pain. There will be a 6-month follow up period, during which the research team will check in with the participant to record any adverse events and maintain study contact.

Enrollment: 274 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Veteran of the United States Armed Forces ≥ 18 years old
• Chronic pain > 6 months related to at least one musculoskeletal pain-related diagnosis indicated by an ICD-9 or -10 code
• Minimum pain intensity at screening ≥4 on a 0-10 using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
• Not begun new pain treatments or medications in the past month
• Stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study
• English literacy
• Wireless internet connection at home

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in another clinical trial, unless given prior authorization from both our research team and that of the other study
• Back surgery within the last 12 months
• Back pain potentially attributed to a specific known condition
• Baseline pain <4 or ≥9 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale
• Unstable, serious coexisting medical illness, mental illness or psychiatric conditions
• Attended or practiced yoga ≥ 1 x in the past 12 months
• Current suicidal intent or plan

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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274 participants in 2 patient groups

Online Yoga

Experimental group

Description:

Postures, meditation, breathing exercises

Treatment:

Behavioral: Yoga

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Behavioral medicine

Treatment:

Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)