A Mind-Body Intervention to Improve Physical Activity for Patients with Chronic Hip-Related Pain: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Mind-Body Interventions
• Pain Management

Background:

• Persistent pain and dysfunction are common after hip pain treatment.
• Individuals with hip pain exhibit lower physical activity levels, exacerbating chronic pain.
• Poor psychological health is prevalent, further limiting activity in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop Helping Improve PSychological Health (HIPS), a novel multimodal mind-body intervention.
• To enhance physical activity for individuals experiencing hip-related pain and psychological distress.
• To integrate psychologically informed care into hip pain management.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews with physical therapists (N=20) and patients (N=20) to inform intervention development.
• Development of the initial HIPS intervention and provider training materials.
• An open pilot trial involving one trained physical therapist delivering the HIPS intervention to five patients, with data collection on satisfaction, improvement, and physical activity.

Main Results:

• The study has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.
• The primary aim is to develop and assess the initial feasibility of the HIPS intervention.
• Findings will guide a future feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Conclusions:

• The HIPS intervention shows promise for improving physical activity in individuals with hip pain.
• This novel approach addresses the psychological and physical needs of patients.
• Further research through a feasibility RCT is warranted to confirm efficacy.