Developing a digital treatment for young people with chronic pain
Official title: Agile Development of a Digital Exposure Treatment for Youth with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10874721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new online program called iGET Living to help teenagers with ongoing pain in their muscles and joints by encouraging them to gradually get back to activities they might have been avoiding, and it’s designed to be easy for both the teens and their parents to use.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $152,355 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AR079608-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10874721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who experience chronic musculoskeletal pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have chronic musculoskeletal pain or are outside the age range of 12-20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a digital intervention called iGET Living, designed to help adolescents suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain. The program aims to address barriers to accessing traditional care by providing a remote, behaviorally-based treatment that encourages gradual exposure to activities that may have been avoided due to pain. By utilizing innovative technology for biomechanical assessments, the study will evaluate how effective and acceptable this digital treatment is for both youth and their parents. The approach is tailored to meet individual needs and aims to improve functional abilities and reduce pain-related distress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, accessible treatment option for young people suffering from chronic pain, potentially reducing their reliance on opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using digital interventions for chronic pain management, indicating that this approach could be effective.
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.
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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.