Gamified mental health app to boost self-compassion in injured adolescent dancers
Use of a Mental Health App in the Recovery of Adolescent Dancers From a Lower Extremity Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This project will try a gamified mental health app to increase self-compassion in adolescent dancers recovering from foot or ankle injuries.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Diego Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Diego, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07219095 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adolescent dancers aged 13–18 who injured their foot or ankle and do not require surgery will use a gamified mental health app (SuperBetter) during their recovery. Participants must have danced regularly before injury and have a device to download the app. The intervention uses game-like tasks and exercises aimed at building self-compassion while participants complete their usual physical rehabilitation. Study staff will enroll eligible patients at Rady Children's Hospital and monitor adherence and responses over the recovery period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adolescents 13–18 who identify dance as their primary sport or danced at least 3 days per week before a foot or ankle injury, who are not facing surgical treatment and who can download the SuperBetter app on a personal device are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who require or have had surgery for the injury, have injuries above the knee, have a documented eating disorder or low bone density, or who do not plan to return to dance are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help injured adolescent dancers recover emotionally by increasing self-compassion and supporting better engagement with rehabilitation.
How similar studies have performed: Digital and gamified mental health interventions have shown promising results for improving resilience and self-compassion in adolescents, but applying this approach specifically to injured dancers is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Provision of informed consent (adult participant), or consent of parent/legal guardian in conjunction with adolescent assent (minor participant) 2. 13 to 18 years of age 3. Endorses dance as their primary sport, or participates 3 days per week or greater in dance prior to injury 4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures including the intervention regimen and availability for the duration of the study 5. Access to a device with which the SuperBetter app can be downloaded and used Exclusion Criteria: 1. Dance is not a primary sport or less than 3 days per week spent dancing prior to injury (skater, gymnast, other sport) 2. Requiring surgery or prior surgery for the injury being treated 3. Injury outside of the leg below the knee 4. Known eating disorder or bone density issue (documented abnormal Z score and/or eating disorder diagnosis upon review of the medical chart) 5. Verbalized plans to not return to dance after recovery from the injury
Where this trial is running
San Diego, California
- Rady Children's Hospital — San Diego, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Emily O Cidambi, MD
- Email: ecidambi@rchsd.org
- Phone: 858-576-1700
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.