Therapeutic yoga and interoceptive awareness in adolescents with chronic pain
Interoceptive Awareness and Function in Adolescents With Chronic Pain
This will test whether an occupational therapy plan that includes therapeutic yoga helps adolescents (ages 11–21) with chronic pain improve body awareness and day-to-day function.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 49 (estimated) |
| Ages | 11 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Connecticut Children's Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hartford, Connecticut) |
| Trial ID | NCT07325110 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational pre-post study enrolls adolescents aged 11–21 seen by the Pain Team at Connecticut Children's who are referred to occupational therapy and agree to include therapeutic yoga in their plan. Participants complete the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) and PROMIS function measures before and after the occupational therapy course, with a brief 3-month follow-up survey. The design uses a convenience sample of new pain-clinic patients and compares self-reported interoceptive awareness and multiple domains of function (physical, mood, fatigue, sleep, social, and pain interference) pre- and post-treatment. No randomization or control group is specified, so effectiveness will be inferred from within-person changes over time.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adolescents aged 11–21 who are new patients at Connecticut Children's Pain Clinic, referred to occupational therapy, diagnosed with chronic pain, and willing to include therapeutic yoga in their OT plan are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who are not receiving yoga as part of OT, those with cognitive impairments that prevent participation, or those whose pain does not respond to OT approaches may not experience benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience improved internal body awareness and better physical and psychosocial functioning, which may reduce pain interference in daily life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small trials in adults and some adolescent programs suggest yoga and interoception-focused therapies can improve pain and function, but robust evidence specifically in adolescents is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Study Group: Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adolescents seen as new patients in the pain clinic at Connecticut Children's 2. Referred to occupational therapy services. 3. Adolescents diagnosed with a form of chronic pain. 4. Between the ages of 11 and 21 years at time of enrollment. 5. If over 18, the ability to understand and willingness to sign the informed consent document or the ability to use the short form process. 6. If under 18, the parent/legal guardian, has the ability to understand and willingness to sign the informed consent document or the ability to use the short form process. 7. Adolescents between the ages of 11 and less than 18 years with the ability to understand and willingness to sign assent. 8. Adolescents who agree to therapeutic yoga as a planned part of their occupational therapy treatment plan. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Adolescents not receiving yoga as an element of their occupational therapy treatment plan. 2. Adolescents with a cognitive impairment that would impede their ability to participate. 3. Adolescents with a neuromuscular diagnosis, such as Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and Muscular Dystrophies, that are not appropriate for yoga as an element of their treatment plan for this study. 4. Adolescents unwilling to complete surveys to participate in this research study. 5. Adolescents who are currently actively practicing yoga 6. Adolescents who are currently receiving occupational therapy at another location.
Where this trial is running
Hartford, Connecticut
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center — Hartford, Connecticut, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Allison Fell, BS — Connecticut Children's Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Allison Fell, BS
- Email: IAandFunctionStudy@connecticutchildrens.org
- Phone: 8608377331
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.