Empowered Relief to improve recovery after lumbar spine surgery
Official title: Rehabilitation With Empowered STrategies to Optimize REcovery After Spine Surgery
Run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NCT07406997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test if a single remote Empowered Relief session helps adults 18–75 recover better after lumbar spine surgery than a single remote education session.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Honolulu, Hawaii and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | February 28, 2029 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07406997 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–75 who are English-speaking, scheduled for primary lumbar laminectomy (with or without fusion) for degenerative disease, and able to access reliable internet and complete 6-month follow-up are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients undergoing revision surgery, surgery for trauma/fracture/tumor/infection/deformity, those with recent prior lumbar surgery, active cancer treatment, ongoing litigation/workers' compensation claims, or without reliable internet/follow-up ability are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a phase II, two-group randomized controlled trial enrolling adults undergoing lumbar laminectomy with or without fusion for degenerative conditions at civilian and military medical centers. Participants are randomized before surgery to one remotely delivered group session of Empowered Relief or a remotely delivered group education session, both led by licensed clinicians. Outcomes are measured with patient-reported surveys before surgery and at 3 and 6 months after surgery, with evaluators blinded to group assignment. The trial will examine postoperative pain, function, and pain catastrophizing to see whether the brief behavioral intervention improves recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this remote single-session program could reduce postoperative pain and disability and improve quality of life after lumbar spine surgery using a low-cost, scalable approach.
How similar studies have gone: Brief single-session behavioral interventions like Empowered Relief and other remote pain-management programs have shown promising reductions in pain catastrophizing and symptom measures in some surgical and chronic pain populations, but evidence is still limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Surgical treatment of a lumbar degenerative condition using a laminectomy and/or fusion procedure * English speaking * Age between 18-85 years Exclusion Criteria: * Surgery due to trauma, fracture, tumor, infection, or spinal deformity * Revision surgery * Prior history of lumbar spine surgery in last 12 months * Involved in litigation or a workers' compensation claim due to injury * Currently undergoing treatment for cancer * Unable to access a reliable internet connection * Unable to provide a stable telephone or physical address * Unable to participate in follow-up assessment for 6 months after surgery
Where it's running
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Not yet recruiting -
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States Not yet recruiting -
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kristin Archer, PhD
- Email: kristin.archer@vumc.org
- Phone: 615-322-2732
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.