Expressive art therapy plus exercise for older adults with chronic low back pain
Official title: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Exploring the Use of Supervised Group Art Therapy Among Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: Feasibility, Potential Efficacy, and Participant Experiences
Run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · NCT07141082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try combining group expressive art activities with supervised exercise to see if it reduces pain and improves function in adults aged 60 and over with chronic low back pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 2, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 8, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07141082 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 60 or older with non-specific low back pain lasting at least three months who have sought medical care, can read and write Traditional Chinese, and meet the MoCA-5 cognitive cutoff.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with malignant pain, lumbar spinal stenosis, confirmed dementia or severe cognitive impairment, serious major medical or psychiatric disorders, or those already receiving physiotherapy or psychological treatments are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this program.
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 pilot randomized controlled trial that compares supervised group expressive art therapy combined with exercise to exercise alone in older adults with non-specific chronic low back pain. The trial uses a mixed-methods design with quantitative questionnaires measuring pain intensity, functional ability, psychological flexibility, and health-related quality of life, alongside qualitative semi-structured focus groups and interviews. Primary aims are feasibility metrics including recruitment, retention, and adherence, and secondary aims are preliminary signals of clinical benefit. Sessions are delivered in person and participants must read and write Traditional Chinese and meet cognitive screening criteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined expressive art and exercise program could reduce pain, improve physical function, and enhance quality of life for older adults with chronic low back pain.
How similar studies have gone: Small pilot studies and art-based pain interventions have suggested benefits for coping and mood in chronic pain, but rigorous randomized evidence for expressive art therapy plus exercise in older adults with CLBP is limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * aged 60 years and above * currently experiencing non-specific low back pain for at least three months * who have sought medical treatment for CLBP * can read and write in Traditional Chinese * MoCA-5 of 18 or above Exclusion Criteria: * malignant pain * lumbar spinal stenosis * confirmed dementia * severe cognitive impairment * serious major medical or psychiatric disorders * currently receiving physiotherapy, cognitive therapy, or psychological treatments
Where it's running
-
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Fadi Al Zoubi, PhD
- Email: fadi.alzoubi@polyu.edu.hk
- Phone: 852-2766-6705
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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.