Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 22 to 70

Personalized ultrasonic brain stimulation to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms

Official title: Low-intensity Ultrasonic Neuromodulation for Alleviation of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Run by University of Utah · NCT07361328 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study will test whether personalized low-intensity ultrasound to the brain can reduce pain and other symptoms in adults with fibromyalgia who have not improved after standard medications and physical therapy.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages22 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment50 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Utah
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 5, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2028
Registry record updatedJanuary 23, 2026
Trial IDNCT07361328 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults with fibromyalgia who meet ACR criteria and have not responded adequately to at least two guideline-recommended medications and at least one course of physical therapy.

Probably not a fit

People who already have good symptom control with current treatments, cannot undergo MRI, are pregnant, or cannot attend multiple in-person visits in Salt Lake City are unlikely to benefit from participation.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional protocol will enroll 50 adults with fibromyalgia who meet American College of Rheumatology criteria and have failed multiple medications and physical therapy. Participants will be randomized to receive personalized low-intensity ultrasound brain stimulation or a sham control across six treatment sessions delivered over two weeks, with MRI scans at the first and final in-person visits. The schedule includes seven in-person visits (treatments and MRIs) and multiple online questionnaire assessments up to 60 days after the first treatment. Primary outcomes are changes in pain and symptom severity compared with sham stimulation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a noninvasive, drug-free option to reduce pain and improve daily function for some people with fibromyalgia.

How similar studies have gone: Ultrasound brain stimulation is an emerging neuromodulation technique with limited early pilot data for pain and neuropsychiatric disorders, so its application specifically for fibromyalgia is largely novel and unproven.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Meets American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia:

  * Generalized pain, defined as pain in at least 4 of 5 regions, is present.
  * Widespread pain index (WPI) ≥ 7 and symptom severity scale score (SSS) ≥ 5, or WPI of 4-6 and SSS score ≥ 9.
  * Symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least 3 months.
  * d.A diagnosis of fibromyalgia is valid irrespective of other diagnoses. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia does not exclude the presence of other clinically important illnesses
* Failure of at least two evidence based medications (i.e., pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran) for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
* Failure of one or more attempts at physical therapy including:

  * Aerobic exercise like walking, cycling, and swimming,
  * Water therapy/hydrotherapy with warm water exercises,
  * Tai Chi involving slow, controlled movements,
  * Yoga,
  * Resistance training,
  * Bodyweight exercises,
  * Pilates,
  * Myofascial release therapy applying gentle pressure on trigger points,
  * Massage therapy,
  * Trigger point therapy targeting specific pain points,
  * Joint mobilization,
  * Postural retraining to correct body alignment,
  * Balance and coordination exercises,
  * Feldenkrais method for movement awareness,
  * Alexander technique to enhance posture and movement efficiency,
  * Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for pain relief,
  * Heat therapy using hot packs, infrared, or paraffin wax,
  * Cold therapy with ice packs or cryotherapy,
  * Ultrasound therapy for deep tissue relaxation,
  * Biofeedback to control muscle tension and pain response,
  * Gentle static stretching for prolonged duration,
  * Active dynamic stretching for full range of motion,
  * Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching,
  * Hydrotherapy pool exercises,
  * Ai Chi (water-based Tai Chi),
  * Underwater treadmill therapy,
  * Graded motor imagery (GMI),
  * Mirror therapy to retrain brain-body connections,
  * Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combining meditation and movement,
  * Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  * Gaze stabilization techniques for dizziness and disorientation
* Pain score of ≥ 4 on Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) at Screening visit.
* Pain score of ≥ 4 on Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) at Baseline visit.
* Stated willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures, to receive no additional interventions, and to remain on the same psychiatric treatment regimen (e.g., medication, psychotherapy) beginning at least one (1) month prior to screening and for the duration of the main study period unless a change in treatment is recommended or agreed upon by the site principal investigator.
* For participants of reproductive potential: negative urine or blood pregnancy test at screening; agreement to use a highly effective method of contraception (≤ 1% pregnancy rate) including tubal ligation, vasectomized partner, IUD or IUS (intrauterine device or system), or long-acting contraceptives (LARC).
* Willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia-spectrum disorder during the participant's lifetime, according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5 (DSM-5) criteria.
* Diagnosis of moderate or severe alcohol or other substance use disorder in the past 6 months, according to DSM-5 criteria.
* Diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder and/or posttraumatic stress disorder in the past 30 days, according to DSM-5 criteria, and which is unstable in the clinical judgment of the investigator.
* Primary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder in the past 3 months, according to DSM-5 criteria.
* Clinically significant neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, or personality disorder, according to DSM-5 criteria.
* Moderate-High Risk of Suicide, according to the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Screen Version - Recent (i.e., answers YES to Question 3 and NO to Question 6 (Moderate Risk), or YES to Question 4, 5, or 6 (High Risk)), or in the clinical judgement of the site principal investigator (PI).

Where it's running

  • Pain Research Center, University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Akiko Okifuji, PhD — University of Utah
  • Study coordinator: Madison Bunnell, Research Study coordinator
  • Email: madison.bunnell@utah.edu
  • Phone: 385-209-1070

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.