Intermittent Light Walking for Musculoskeletal Pain

Overseen By Kelly M Naugle, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Indiana University

Must not be taking: Chronic opioids

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular issues, Neurological disease, Psychiatric conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effect of brief bouts of intermittent walking on bodily pain, pain during movement, and how the body adapts to musculoskeletal pain in older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using chronic opioids (for 90 days or more), you would not be eligible to participate.

Is intermittent light walking safe for humans?

Research on walking interventions for musculoskeletal pain shows that adverse events (unwanted effects) are mostly minor and temporary, indicating that walking is generally safe for humans. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is intermittent light walking different from other treatments for musculoskeletal pain?

Intermittent light walking is unique because it involves short, regular walking sessions that can be easily integrated into daily life, unlike more intense or structured exercise programs. This approach may be more accessible and sustainable for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, offering a gentle way to improve pain and function without the need for special equipment or facilities. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Intermittent light walking for musculoskeletal pain?

Research shows that walking interventions can help reduce pain and improve function in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Strategies to promote walking have been found to positively impact physical activity, pain, and function in individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. ^{4 6 7 10 11}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kelly Marie Naugle

Principal Investigator

School of Health and Human Sciences, IUPUI

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults experiencing musculoskeletal pain. Specific eligibility details are not provided, but typically participants should be in stable health and able to perform the required activities.

Inclusion Criteria

I have experienced pain in my joints, bones, or muscles in the last month.

I live in my own home, not in a healthcare facility.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will be asked to not participate in vigorous or unaccustomed exercise 48 hours prior to each study session.

My blood pressure is controlled, and I have no history of heart failure or heart attacks.

I can't walk for 6 minutes without help.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Session 1

Participants undergo informed consent, health history screening, quantitative sensory testing, 6-minute walk test, completion of questionnaires, experimental conditions of either 1 hour of sitting or 1 hour of sitting with bouts of light intensity walking, and the 30-second chair stand test.

3 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Session 2

Participants complete questionnaires, undergo quantitative sensory testing, and experience the experimental condition not performed in Session 1.

2.5 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the experimental sessions.

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Intermittent light walking

Trial Overview The study investigates how brief periods of light walking versus uninterrupted sitting affect bodily pain, movement-related pain, and adaptation to musculoskeletal discomfort in seniors.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Uninterrupted Sitting for 1 hour Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The participant will remain seated throughout the experimental period and will be instructed to minimize excessive movement, only rising from the chair to void. This experimental condition is designed to mimic prolonged uninterrupted sedentary behavior.

Group II: 1 hour of sitting interrupted with 2.5 minute bouts of light intensity walking Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will sit as described above with six bouts of 2.5-minutes of light intensity walking (see Figure 2). Overall, the bouts will occur on six occasions, providing a total of 15 minutes of light intensity activity. Participants will be asked to walk at a light intensity based on the 6-20 RPE scale, which corresponds to a 9-11 RPE rating. This experimental condition is designed to mimic sedentary behavior interspersed with frequent short bouts of LPA. RPE and pain intensity (0-100 scale) will be assessed at the end of each walking bout.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A systematic review of 8 randomized controlled trials, including 116 participants, found that physical activity interventions using electronic feedback did not significantly reduce pain or disability compared to minimal interventions in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

The overall quality of the evidence was rated as low, suggesting that clinicians should be cautious in using these electronic feedback interventions for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity-Based Interventions Using Electronic Feedback May Be Ineffective in Reducing Pain and Disability in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Oliveira, CB., Franco, MR., Maher, CG., et al.[2019]

In a 12-month study involving 229 participants with chronic back pain, those in a pedometer-based walking intervention reported a higher number of adverse events (350) compared to the usual care group (250), with musculoskeletal injuries being the most common.

Despite the increased reporting of musculoskeletal events, the study concludes that individuals with chronic back pain can safely participate in walking programs, suggesting the need for counseling on injury prevention and gradual increases in activity levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events experienced by participants in a back pain walking intervention: A descriptive study. Krein, SL., Abdul-Wahab, Y., Kadri, R., et al.[2016]

A 10-week walking program integrated into cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain significantly increased participants' daily step counts by an average of 1648 steps, indicating its effectiveness in promoting physical activity.

The program was safe, with mostly minor and temporary adverse events reported, and it was equally effective whether delivered in person or via interactive voice response, suggesting flexibility in treatment delivery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating walking into cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain: safety and effectiveness of a personalized walking intervention. Heapy, AA., Tankha, H., Higgins, DM., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Walking exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity-Based Interventions Using Electronic Feedback May Be Ineffective in Reducing Pain and Disability in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Strategies to Promote Walking in People With Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. [2021]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile app use to support therapeutic exercise for musculoskeletal pain conditions may help improve pain intensity and self-reported physical function: a systematic review. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity Interventions for Increasing Objectively Measured Physical Activity Levels in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse events experienced by participants in a back pain walking intervention: A descriptive study. [2016]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating walking into cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain: safety and effectiveness of a personalized walking intervention. [2023]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"WALK30X5": a feasibility study of a physiotherapy walking programme for people with mild to moderate musculoskeletal conditions. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Should exercises be painful in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2018]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does moderate-to-high intensity Nordic walking improve functional capacity and pain in fibromyalgia? A prospective randomized controlled trial. [2022]

11. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized trial of walking versus physical methods for chronic pain management. [2019]