Online yoga versus Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans
Online Yoga vs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
This project will test whether online yoga works as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 274 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Palo Alto, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06704061 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized trial will assign veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain to either weekly online yoga classes or weekly online group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) sessions for 12 weeks. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires about pain and function at baseline, during treatment, and over a six-month follow-up. The primary analysis is a non-inferiority comparison to see if online yoga produces pain outcomes comparable to ACT. The team will monitor adverse events and keep regular contact to capture safety and the durability of any benefits.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are U.S. veterans aged 18 or older with at least six months of musculoskeletal pain, a moderate baseline pain score (≥4), stable pain medications, English literacy, and reliable home internet access.
Not a fit: Patients with very low or very high baseline pain scores, recent back surgery, a specific structural cause of back pain, unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, current regular yoga practice, or active suicidal intent are unlikely to qualify or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, online yoga could provide a low-cost, accessible non-drug option to reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain for veterans.
How similar studies have performed: ACT is an established, evidence-based treatment for chronic pain and prior research shows yoga can help chronic pain, but direct non-inferiority comparisons of online yoga versus ACT are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran of the United States Armed Forces ≥ 18 years old * Chronic pain \> 6 months related to at least one musculoskeletal pain-related diagnosis indicated by an ICD-9 or -10 code * Minimum pain intensity at screening ≥4 on a 0-10 using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) * Not begun new pain treatments or medications in the past month * Stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study * English literacy * Internet connection at home Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in another clinical trial, unless given prior authorization from both our research team and that of the other study * Back surgery within the last 12 months * Back pain potentially attributed to a specific known condition * Baseline pain \<4 or ≥9 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale * Unstable, serious coexisting medical illness, mental illness or psychiatric conditions * Attended or practiced yoga ≥ 1 x in the past 12 months * Current suicidal intent or plan * Has received ACT in the past
Where this trial is running
Palo Alto, California
- Palo Alto VA Medical Center — Palo Alto, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Peter Bayley, PhD — Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
- Study coordinator: Peter Bayley, PhD
- Email: peter.bayley@va.gov
- Phone: 650-493-5000
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.