Evaluating brainwave responses to physical therapy interventions for pain relief

Brainwave Activity Response on Common Physical Therapy Intervention

NA · Florida Gulf Coast University · NCT04542707

This study is testing how different physical therapy treatments affect brain activity in people with chronic pain to see if it helps them feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment170 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorFlorida Gulf Coast University (other)
Locations1 site (Fort Myers, Florida)
Trial IDNCT04542707 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to assess how brainwave activity changes in response to common physical therapy interventions, including joint manipulation, soft tissue massage, and exercise, in individuals with chronic pain. It consists of three phases: first, identifying typical resting brainwave patterns in asymptomatic subjects; second, measuring brainwave responses during physical therapy interventions; and third, exploring the potential therapeutic effects of audible sounds during joint manipulation. The goal is to better understand the relationship between brain activity and physical therapy treatments.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals aged 18-60 with chronic pain who have not engaged in regular exercise and meet specific health criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of concussion, traumatic brain injury, or central nervous system disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective physical therapy interventions for managing chronic pain.

How similar studies have performed: While there is existing literature on the effects of physical therapy on pain, this specific approach to measuring brainwave responses is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects will be between the ages of 18-60.
* The subjects for the manipulation group should have no history of thoracic spine pain in the last 6 months, no thoracic spine injuries within the past 6 months.
* The subjects for the exercise groups should be novice exercisers that do not workout often and can tolerate a 15 minute moderate intensity exercises.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A history of concussion, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or any known central nervous system disorder TBI, or brain damage.
* The specific exclusion criteria are for the manipulation group is osteopenia/osteoporosis or any other conditions or medications that would lead to skeletal compromise.

Where this trial is running

Fort Myers, Florida

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Pain, Brain wave activity, Exercise, Joint manipulation, Soft tissue massage, Pupillometry

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.