Lifestyle medicine program for older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Official title: Life-Style Medicine for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Older People: A Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Run by Chinese University of Hong Kong · NCT07194239 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether four face-to-face health coaching sessions about lifestyle changes can reduce pain and improve quality of life for older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 268 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 9, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | October 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07194239 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (≥3 months) and a pain score of 4 or higher who have stable physical activity and can understand written and spoken Chinese.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with cancer-related pain, inflammatory rheumatic disease, recent major surgery or stroke, terminal illness, serious mental illness, severe or uncontrolled heart disease, or other conditions that prevent active participation (or who cannot understand Chinese) are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Older adults with persistent musculoskeletal pain are randomly assigned to receive four in-person health-coach sessions that set personalized lifestyle goals or to a waitlist control receiving usual care for 24 weeks. Outcomes include pain intensity and interference, self-management efficacy, stress, sleep quality, diet, overall quality of life, and cost-effectiveness measured at baseline, one month, and three months after the intervention. The waitlist group is offered the same coaching after completing follow-up assessments. The intervention is delivered at a community health center in Shatin and focuses on practical lifestyle changes rather than medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience less pain, improved sleep and self-management, and better overall quality of life without adding new medications.
How similar studies have gone: Similar lifestyle and health-coaching programs have produced modest improvements in pain and function in older adults with osteoarthritis and chronic pain, though results are variable and large definitive trials are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * chronic musculoskeletal pain, defined as pain that lasted for more than 3 months persistently or intermittently, including regional pain (joints, limbs, back, and/or neck) * a degenerative joint condition, such as osteoarthritis, and/or musculoskeletal complaints that fall under the classification of the International Classification of Disease-11 as "chronic primary musculoskeletal pain" or "chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain" * Pain intensity score ≥ 4 on a numerical rating scale of 10 * stable baseline physical activity * ability to understand written and verbal Chinese Exclusion Criteria: * patient with cancer-related pain * inflammatory rheumatic disease * a recent history of stroke or major surgery in the past 6 months * terminal illness * serious mental illness * severe or uncontrolled heart disease * comorbid conditions that might impede active participation in the study
Where it's running
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4/F, Lek Yuen Health Center, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Cheryl Fung, Bachelor
- Email: cheryllcfung@cuhk.edu.hk
- Phone: +852 2609 5050
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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.