A Digital Program for Young People with Chronic Muscle and Joint Pain
Official title: Agile Development of a Digital Exposure Treatment for Youth with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11120991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a new online program to help young people and their parents manage ongoing muscle and joint pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $152,355 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AR079608-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11120991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents, aged 12-20 years old, who experience chronic musculoskeletal pain and their parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not musculoskeletal in origin or who are not within the adolescent age range may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Many young people experience chronic muscle and joint pain, which can make daily activities difficult and sometimes leads to other problems. While there are good ways to help, getting access to care can be a challenge. This project is building a digital program called iGET Living, designed to help young people gradually face and overcome fears related to their pain, allowing them to get back to activities they enjoy. We will be working with young people and their parents to make sure the program is easy to use and helpful, and we'll also check if it reduces pain-related difficulties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this digital program could make effective pain management more accessible for young people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, potentially reducing their disability and distress.
How similar studies have gone: Behavioral interventions for chronic pain in adolescents have shown effectiveness, and this project aims to adapt a proven approach (graded exposure) into a digital format to improve access.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrison, Lauren Elisabeth — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Harrison, Lauren Elisabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Biopsychosocial factors in pediatric chronic musculoskeletal pain
A study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will look at how biological, psychological, and social factors contribute to chronic muscle and joint pain in young people to find better ways to help them.
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Neurobiological and psychosocial factors that may turn acute teen pain into chronic pain
A study following teenagers with acute musculoskeletal pain to understand why some develop chronic pain and how biology and psychology interact to shape their outcomes.
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Tech-guided walking plus Tai Chi to improve function for veterans with COPD and chronic pain
This program helps veterans with COPD and long-term muscle or joint pain use a web-based step program together with Tai Chi to move more and feel stronger.
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Resilience Coaching for Teens with Long-Lasting Muscle and Bone Pain
This project offers resilience coaching to help teenagers manage ongoing muscle and bone pain and improve their well-being.
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GET SMART: Tailored graded exposure for kids with chronic musculoskeletal pain
A multi-site trial tests a stepwise, personalized exposure-based therapy for children with long-standing musculoskeletal pain and their families.
-
Online yoga vs. acceptance-based therapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans
A large, well-designed study will compare online yoga to acceptance and commitment therapy to help veterans manage chronic musculoskeletal pain.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.