Chronic Pain, Emotions and Professional Football

Part of paid clinical trials in Story City, Iowa.

Sponsor
Evidence In Motion
Study ID
NCT07583368
Status
Completed

Conditions

  • Chronic Pain
  • Chronic Pain (Back / Neck)

Eligibility Criteria

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

Interventions

  • No Intervention: Observational Cohort — OTHER
    No Intervention: Observational Cohort

Study Details

Chronic pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, including emotions and environmental context. Prior research demonstrates that emotional states and psychosocial processes such as depression, fear-avoidance, and catastrophizing significantly shape the pain experience. Professional sports fandom is known to influence emotional well-being, but its relationship to chronic pain has not yet been examined. This longitudinal observational study aims to evaluate whether weekly performance outcomes of participants' favorite U.S. professional football (NFL) teams are associated with fluctuations in self-reported pain intensity, depression, and pain catastrophization among adults with chronic pain who identify as avid football fans. Participants will complete weekly online surveys throughout the NFL regular season, reporting pain ratings (NPRS) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-2). Team performance (win/loss, played/did not play, rival results) will be recorded by the research team. The study seeks to determine whether sports-related emotional fluctuations correlate with changes in chronic pain experiences.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 18, 2025
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Jan 9, 2026
Completion
Jan 9, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
32 participants (actual)

Arms

  • Arm: Cohort 1: Avid NFL Fans with Chronic Pain
    Participants in this cohort are adults aged 18 or older who have experienced chronic pain for more than one year and meet predefined criteria for being avid fans of an active U.S. professional football (NFL) team. All participants will complete baseline demographic and clinical questionnaires and will provide weekly self-reported measures of pain intensity (NPRS) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-2) throughout the NFL regular season. Team performance variables (game played, win/loss outcome, rival results) will be collected by the research team. Study Activities: Baseline demographic and football-related fan profile questionnaire Baseline Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) Weekly NPRS and PHQ-2 surveys End-of-season PCS Research team documentation of weekly team performance and rival performance Purpose: To evaluate whether weekly NFL team performance is associated with fluctuations in pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and catastrophizing in individuals living with chronic pain

Primary Outcome Measure

Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS) [ Time Frame: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026). ]

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Evidence in MotionStory CityIowa50248-

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Evidence in Motion· Story City, IA

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