A mind-body intervention to improve recovery for patients with chronic hip joint-related pain: Protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial
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Kate N Jochimsen1, Abigail Kapoor2, Nadine Levey2
1Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research (CHOIR), Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Sq., Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Introduction:
Current treatments for non-arthritic hip joint-related pain (HRP) follow a biomedical model that largely disregards psychological factors such as pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and self-efficacy despite evidence of their pivotal role in recovery. These maladaptive psychological responses to pain are a barrier to rehabilitation and physical activity, leaving a critical gap in care. An intervention integrating mind-body techniques alongside rehabilitation is needed. Thus, this RCT will evaluate the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of a novel mind-body intervention (Helping Improve PSychological health [HIPS]) compared to a standard education control (Healthy Living Program) among patients with chronic HRP.
Methods:
Fifty adults (ages 18-45 years) with chronic HRP (lasting≥3 months, rated Pain VAS ≥ 3) who exhibit at least one psychological risk factor for the maintenance of chronic pain - elevated pain catastrophizing, elevated kinesiophobia, or low pain self-efficacy will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized 1: 1 to the HIPS mind-body intervention (6-sessions, 30-min/week) or the time- and attention-matched Healthy Living Program. Both are delivered by a trained physical therapist via live video. All participants attend concurrent standard-of-care rehabilitation. Primary outcomes are a priori benchmarks (≥70% acceptable; ≥80% excellent) for feasibility (recruitment, survey completion), clinician fidelity (sessions with 100% adherence to fidelity checklist), and acceptability (retention, satisfaction, improvement, credibility).
Discussion:
This trial addresses a critical gap in rehabilitation for individuals with chronic HRP by evaluating the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of a mind-body intervention delivered by physical therapists via live video. Following this feasibility RCT, HIPS will be tested in a future remote efficacy trial. CT Registration: #NCT07586397.