Remote physical therapy to ease chronic low back pain and cut opioid use in rural communities
Improving Function and Reducing Opioid Use for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in Rural Communities through Improved Access to Physical Therapy using Telerehabilitation
This project offers remote physical therapy to people with long-term low back pain in rural areas to help them move better and depend less on opioid pain medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194520 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive physical therapy delivered remotely so you do not have to travel long distances to see a therapist. The program focuses on people with chronic low back pain living in rural communities who face barriers like transportation, provider shortages, and missed work. Care will emphasize movement, function, and pain management while tracking opioid use over time. The team will compare outcomes for people who get improved telehealth access to physical therapy versus usual access patterns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living in rural communities with chronic low back pain, especially those who have trouble getting in-person physical therapy or who are using opioids for pain, are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without reliable internet or a device for telehealth, those with spine problems that need immediate surgery, or patients whose pain is not primarily musculoskeletal may not benefit from remote physical therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help rural patients with chronic low back pain improve function, reduce pain-related disability, and lower opioid use by making physical therapy easier to access.
How similar studies have performed: In-person physical therapy has previously been shown to improve pain and function and to reduce opioid use, while delivering it by telehealth in rural settings has been less widely tested.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skolasky, Richard L. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Skolasky, Richard L.
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 below.