Laterality Training and Pain Drawings

Part of paid clinical trials in Moline, Illinois.

Sponsor
Hawaii Pacific University
Study ID
NCT07078084
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Chronic Knee Pain
  • Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
  • Chronic Shoulder Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Laterality Training — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants complete a structured laterality training session using a tablet-based application that presents images of hands or feet. Depending on their pain location (shoulder or knee), participants identify whether each image shows a left or right body part. The session consists of 5 one-minute training bouts with 60-second rest intervals between each. The task is designed to engage and retrain cortical body maps associated with the painful region, based on principles of graded motor imagery. Participants are instructed to prioritize accuracy over speed.
  • Sham (No Treatment) — OTHER
    Participants in this arm will complete a non-therapeutic cognitive activity by working independently on a standard word-based crossword puzzle for 10 minutes. This task is designed to match the duration and engagement level of the laterality training without influencing sensorimotor processing or cortical body maps. It serves as a sham comparator to help isolate the specific effects of the laterality training intervention.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if laterality training (a type of brain-based therapy) can help reduce pain and change how people with chronic musculoskeletal pain experience and describe their pain. The study will focus on adults with shoulder or knee pain lasting longer than 6 months. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does laterality training lead to a reduction in self-reported pain levels? Does laterality training reduce the area of the body that participants indicate as painful in their pain drawings? Does laterality training improve accuracy and speed in left/right judgment tasks? Researchers will compare participants who complete laterality training to those who complete a non-therapeutic cognitive task (a word puzzle) to see if laterality training changes pain drawings and improves pain outcomes. Participants will: Complete a pre-intervention assessment including pain ratings, pain drawings, and a left/right judgment test Be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Intervention group: Complete 5 one-minute sessions of laterality training using a tablet-based app called Recognise™, identifying left or right hand/foot images depending on the location of their pain Control group: Complete a 10-minute crossword puzzle activity (non-therapeutic) Complete the same assessments after the activity (pain ratings, pain drawings, left/right judgment test) The study will take place at two outpatient physical therapy clinics. Participation involves a single session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes. There is no cost to participate, and no compensation is provided. Participation is voluntary, and all personal data will be kept confidential. This research will help determine whether laterality training, a non-invasive brain-based technique, can reduce pain and improve quality of life in people with long-standing musculoskeletal pain.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 31, 2025
Status verified
Jul 2025
Primary completion
Feb 28, 2026
Completion
Feb 28, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Laterality Training Intervention
    Participants in this arm will complete laterality training using the Recognise™ application. This involves identifying left or right hand or foot images (depending on the participant's pain location) displayed on a tablet. Each participant will complete 5 rounds of 60-second training with 60-second rest intervals between rounds. The activity is designed to engage cortical body maps and promote neuroplastic changes associated with reduced pain perception.
  • Sham Comparator: Sham Cognitive Task Comparator
    Participants in this arm will complete a non-therapeutic cognitive activity by working independently on a standard word-based crossword puzzle for 10 minutes. This task is designed to match the duration and engagement level of the laterality training without influencing sensorimotor processing or cortical body maps. It serves as a sham comparator to help isolate the specific effects of the laterality training intervention

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Pain Drawing Area [ Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (approximately 15 minutes after Baseline) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (2)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Rock Valley Physical TherapyMolineIllinois61265
Chad Humphrey, MPT
[email protected]
(309) 743-2072
Rock Valley Physical TherapyDavenportIowa52039
Meghan Buchanan, DPT
[email protected]
(563) 324-2263

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