Prospective Assessment of Integrative Therapies for Neuromusculoskeletal Pain (PAIN)

Part of paid clinical trials in Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Sponsor
David Moss
Study ID
NCT07094282
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Chronic Pain

Eligibility Criteria

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

Interventions

  • Acupuncture — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: Acupuncture treatment
  • myofascial therapy — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: myofascial therapy to include transverse abdominus teaching, rectus abdominus release, functional neuromyofascial techniques, cupping, gua sha, active needling.
  • microcurrent therapy — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: Microcurrent
  • LASER — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: LASER
  • extracorporeal shockwave therapy — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
  • Pulsed electromagnetic therapies — OTHER
    Integrative Medicine: Pulsed electromagnetic therapies
  • Miscellaneous integrative medicine — OTHER
    other integrative medicine modalities

Study Details

With vast numbers of active-duty members restricted from their specific duties or deemed unfit for deployment because of low back pain, both the mission of the Department of Defense and overall military workflow can be significantly impacted. More than restriction from duty or being barred from deployment, studies have shown musculoskeletal conditions were among the top reasons for medical disability retirement in the Army and Marine Corps (Niebuhr; Sikorski). Given the significant time, money, and resources invested in training these members, each day of inactivity or disability detrimentally affects the execution of the military's mission. Therefore, precise diagnosis and effective treatment modalities are paramount to foster healing and reduce recovery time. From an operational standpoint, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) is specifically interested in using tailored integrative medicine modalities to manage chronic conditions encountered in the military health system. Not just chronic pain, but polytrauma and the triad of conditions it encompasses; traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder combined with chronic pain (Madsen, Kim, Bedard). The DoD's goal is also to decrease opioid prescribing and the addiction and altered state associated with opioids. AT the Nellis Integrative Medicine Clinic, physicians, a chiropractor, and nurses are engaged in the treatment of patients. All personnel are trained in the various modalities available in the clinics. A variety of modalities are utilized in the clinic. This prospective study will evaluate the effectiveness of the many modalities used in the Integrative Medicine Clinic (such as acupuncture, myofascial therapies, microcurrent therapies, LASER therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic therapies). Most patients receive treatments using multiple modalities. DoD goals align with our experiences in the Integrative Medicine Clinic at Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center. Many servicemembers and dependents in our clinic are trying to avoid surgery, or their pain medications - opioid or not - are no longer working. Additionally, many patients are trying to avoid Do Not Fly status caused by pharmacologic approaches. Patient experiences at our IMC also correlate with a study where 80% of people surveyed felt integrative medicine should be routinely offered at all MTFs (Ross). While our patients generally are not on opioids, we have anecdotally noted a reduction or cessation of opioids in several patients. The impacts of such a reduction in opioid usage for military readiness is clear (Madsen).

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 4, 2025
Status verified
Oct 2025
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2028
Completion
Jul 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
125 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Integrative Medicine (pre to post treatment)
    Patients will act as their own control with preintervention scores. The main integrative medicine intervention therapies include but may not be limited to acupuncture, myofascial therapies, microcurrent therapies, LASER therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic therapies.

Primary Outcome Measure

Dallas Pain Questionnaire [ Time Frame: baseline (pre-treatment) through study period (visit 1, week 0) (visit 2, week 4) (visit 3, week 8) (visit 4, week 12) (visit 5, week 16) (visit 6, week 20) (visit 4, week 24) (visit 8, week 28) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical CenterNellis Air Force BaseNevada89191
Daniel Shaffer
[email protected]

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