Neural Mobilization to Improve Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults

NCT07449819 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SCED1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 4
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to discover whether performing active neural mobilization exercises works to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults. The main question it aims to answer is: Can an active neural mobilization program improve pain intensity and functional capacity? Participants will:

• Perform active neural mobilization exercises for 8 weeks (twice a week), under the in-person supervision of a physiotherapist;
• Visit the clinic twice a week for 12 weeks for consultations, examinations, and symptom monitoring;
• Keep a diary of their symptoms and frequency of analgesic use.

Conditions

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Keywords

chronic musculoskeletal pain; older adults; physical therapy; neural mobilization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain diary

  Participants will be asked to complete a daily "pain diary," recording: * Average pain intensity that day (numerical scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable"); * Pain-related interference that day (numerical scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no interference" and 10 represents "maximum interference"); * Medication used for pain.

  Every day (until the end of the study) - from week 1 to week 24

Secondary Outcomes (13)

• Pain distribution

  Three assessment points: 1) Baseline 2) After the 8-week intervention program 3) At the end of the study (week 24)

• Neuropathic pain components

  Three assessment points: 1) Baseline 2) After the 8-week intervention program 3) At the end of the study (week 24)

• Pain Catastrophizing

  Three assessment points: 1) Baseline 2) After the 8-week intervention program 3) At the end of the study (week 24)

• Kinesiophobia

  Three assessment points: 1) Baseline 2) After the 8-week intervention program 3) At the end of the study (week 24)

• Signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity of the nervous system

  Three assessment points: 1) Baseline 2) After the 8-week intervention program 3) At the end of the study (week 24)

Study Arms (1)

Active Neural Mobilization Exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Active Neural Mobilization Exercises

Interventions

Active Neural Mobilization Exercises OTHER

Participants will actively perform neural mobilization exercises for the upper and lower limbs, as well as spinal structures.

Active Neural Mobilization Exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older
• People with chronic musculoskeletal pain

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals undergoing surgery in the last 3 months
• Individuals diagnosed with dementia, cancer, thrombosis, or central nervous system injury (e.g., stroke);
• Individuals who are receiving another physiotherapy intervention
• Individuals who do not understand the Portuguese language
• Individuals with mild cognitive impairment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aveiro University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro (Portugal)

Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Frederico M Baptista

CONTACT

+351934385366; fredericobaptista@ua.pt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: The experimental methodology selected to address the objectives of this study was a single-case experimental design (SCED) with multiple baseline design (MBD). Participants will alternate between three sequential phases: Phase A - baseline, Phase B - experimental phase, and Phase A' - follow-up. Phase B will have the same duration for all participants, while Phases A and A' will have different durations for each participant.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2026
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)