Physical Therapy Integrated With Mindfulness for Patients With Chronic Pain and Opioid Treatment

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · May 15, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how effective it is to combine physical therapy with mindfulness techniques for people suffering from chronic pain, especially those who are also using prescription opioids for pain relief. The researchers want to find out if training physical therapists to include mindfulness practices—like breathing exercises and focusing on the present moment—can help improve patient outcomes. They will first create a training manual for therapists and then assess how well these therapists can deliver mindfulness-based interventions to their patients.

To participate in this study, patients must be between 18 and 75 years old, speak English, and have been experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain—like back or joint pain—for at least three months. Additionally, they should have been taking prescription opioids for most of the past three months. Participants can expect to work with trained physical therapists and share their experiences regarding pain levels and medication use during the study. It’s important to note that this trial is not for those who are currently pregnant, receiving other mind-body treatments, or dealing with substance use issues. If you meet the criteria and are interested, this could be an opportunity to explore a new approach to managing chronic pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Aim 1
• Physical Therapist Inclusion Criteria:
• • Employed at least .50 FTE (Full Time Equivalent)
• • Self Report managing patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions
• • Exclusion Criteria: None
• • Aim 2 and 3
• Physical Therapist Inclusion Criteria:
• • Employed at least .50 FTE (Full Time Equivalent)
• • Self Report managing patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions
• Physical Therapist Exclusion Criteria:
• • -Attended any experiential (i.e., practice sessions with real or simulated patients) mindfulness training to be used for patient care
• • Attended any patient care specific mindfulness training lasting more than 3 hours.
• • Self-report using mindfulness interventions such as savoring and cognitive reappraisal (core components of MORE) as a primary intervention strategy for the majority of their caseload for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
• • Aims 1, 2 and 3
• Patient Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 18-75
• • English Speaking
• • Diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain condition involving the spine and/or peripheral joint(s)
• • Current musculoskeletal pain present for greater than or equal to 3 months.
• • Use of prescription opioids for most of the last 90 days (self-report)
• Patient Exclusion Criteria:
• • Currently pregnant
• • Currently receiving mind-body treatment for musculoskeletal pain from a healthcare provider (e.g. PT, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc)
• • Currently receiving treatment for substance use disorder
• • Musculoskeletal pain condition related to a fracture or surgical procedure in the past 6 months.