Interoception-Based Yoga for Chronic Pain

NCT06268197 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB23-0329
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 26
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an interoception-based yoga program for chronic pain. Interoception involves your ability to feel sensations in your body (such as your heartbeat or muscle tension) as well as how you think about and interpret those sensations. Interoception may be an important component of chronic pain and the research team is studying whether yoga can change how you feel, think about, and interpret sensations in your body.

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Feasibility

  Defined as achieving the target recruitment sample (N=25) in a 9-month period, 80% retention (N=20), 70% attendance rate, 70% home practice adherence and no serious adverse events.

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

• Acceptability

  Defined as \>5/7 on acceptability questionnaire (1 = unacceptable, 7 = very acceptable)

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Interoceptive Sensibility

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

• PROMIS Pain Interference

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

Other Outcomes (6)

• Interoceptive Accuracy

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

• Mindfulness

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

• PROMIS Pain Intensity

  Primary endpoint: 6 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Yoga Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Interoception-based yoga intervention, 2x/week for 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Yoga Intervention

Interventions

Yoga Intervention BEHAVIORAL

The yoga intervention will consist of twice weekly, in-person, gentle Hatha yoga classes delivered by a certified yoga instructor. Each class will last 60-75 minutes and will include an introduction to the day's topic, an opening breathing/meditation practice, yoga postures, a closing breathing/meditation practice, and end with a savasana pose and intention setting for a home practice.

Yoga Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Self-reported chronic pain lasting ≥ 3 months (such as widespread musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, migraine etc.)
• In the past week, has pain interfered with your day-to-day activities? Yes
• Self-reported ambulatory ability without an assistive device
• Self-reported ability to get on and off the floor without assistance.
• No ongoing mind-body practice (\<1x/week over the past 6 months).
• Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Screen Pass or Physician Consent
• English-speaking
• Able and willing to provide consent
• No plans to move or travel outside the area in the next 2 months

You may not qualify if:

• Ages \<18 or ≥ 65 at time of screening
• Pain lasting \< 3 months
• In the past week, has pain interfered with your day-to-day activities? No
• Use of any assistive device (e.g. cane, walker, wheelchair).
• Inability to get on and off the floor without assistance.
• A consistent ongoing mind-body practice (mindfulness, yoga, meditation, tai chi, qigong), at least 1x/week over the past 6 months
• Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Screen Fail or non-consent of physician
• Non-English speaking
• Non-consent
• Plans to move or significant travel outside the area in the next 2 months
• Known pregnancy
• Recent surgery or acute bone, joint or nerve injury (within the past 6 months)
• Severe or progressive neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, or acquired brain injury
• Separate pain-related diagnoses: cancer-related pain, complex regional pain syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, functional neurological/ movement disorders
• Active or planned worker's compensation or personal injury claim

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Voss S, Patel I, Skowron C, Petruzzello S, Gothe NP. Interoception-Based Yoga for Chronic Pain: A Pilot Feasibility Study. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2025 Nov 20;14:27536130251400362. doi: 10.1177/27536130251400362. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

  PMID: 41282370 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Neha P Gothe, PhD

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Steven Petruzzello, PhD

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaing

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2024
• First Posted: February 20, 2024
• Study Start: February 16, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2024
• Study Completion: March 24, 2025
• Last Updated: April 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE

Locations

US (1)