Resilience Coaching for Teens with Long-Lasting Muscle and Bone Pain
Official title: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Resilience Coaching for Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11363175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers resilience coaching to help teenagers manage ongoing muscle and bone pain and improve their well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $75,551 |
| NIH project number | 3K23AR081409-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents, primarily teenagers, who experience chronic musculoskeletal pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience chronic musculoskeletal pain or are outside the adolescent age range may not receive direct benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
Many teenagers experience chronic muscle and bone pain, which can lead to difficulties with daily life and emotional challenges. This project adapts a successful resilience training program, called PRISM-C, specifically for adolescents dealing with this type of pain. Participants will receive coaching sessions, including a new group session, designed to help them develop coping skills and positive adaptation. We want to see if this program can make a real difference in how teens experience their pain and overall quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this coaching program could offer a new, accessible way for adolescents to better manage their chronic pain and improve their emotional health.
How similar studies have gone: A similar resilience training program has shown success in adolescents and young adults with other serious illnesses, and preliminary data for this adapted version show it is feasible and well-received by youth with chronic pain.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gmuca, Sabrina Andrea — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Gmuca, Sabrina Andrea
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping adolescents with chronic pain build resilience
This study is looking at a program called PRISM that helps teenagers with ongoing pain by teaching them skills to handle stress and build resilience, so they can feel better both physically and emotionally while connecting with others who understand what they're going through.
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Understanding how resilience and physical activity affect chronic pain in adolescents
This study is looking at how being mentally strong and active can help teenagers with ongoing pain in their muscles and joints, and it involves 60 teens sharing their experiences and wearing devices to track their activity levels.
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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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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.
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.