Chronic PainNCT06704061
Online Yoga vs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
A study testing Yoga and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in people with Chronic Pain and Musculoskeletal Pain, run by Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will compare online yoga with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an established treatment for chronic pain. We will compare the efficacy of the two treatments for reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain
- What is being tested?
- Yoga and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 274 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 7 Jan 2026to 1 Nov 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Veteran of the United States Armed Forces ≥ 18 years old
- Chronic pain > 6 months related to at least one musculoskeletal pain-related diagnosis indicated by an ICD-9 or -10 code
- Minimum pain intensity at screening ≥4 on a 0-10 using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
- Not begun new pain treatments or medications in the past month
- Stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study
- English literacy
- Internet connection at home
Who cannot join
- Participation in another clinical trial, unless given prior authorization from both our research team and that of the other study
- Back surgery within the last 12 months
- Back pain potentially attributed to a specific known condition
- Baseline pain <4 or ≥9 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale
- Unstable, serious coexisting medical illness, mental illness or psychiatric conditions
- Attended or practiced yoga ≥ 1 x in the past 12 months
- Current suicidal intent or plan
- Has received ACT in the past
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Palo Alto VA Medical Center
Palo Alto, California, 94304
Peter Bayley, PhD, 650-493-5000 ext. 68653, peter.bayley@va.gov
Annie Lau, BA, 6503748516, annie.lau2@va.gov
About this study
This study will compare online yoga with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an established treatment for chronic pain. We will compare the efficacy of the two treatments for reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans.
Read the detailed description
This study will test if online yoga is not inferior than ACT for treating chronic pain in veterans. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either online yoga instruction or ACT, once a week for 12 weeks in an online group class. They will complete self-report questionnaires about their experience of chronic pain. There will be a 6-month follow up period, during which the research team will check in with the participant to record any adverse events and maintain study contact.
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain
- Being tested
- Yoga, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Keywords
- chronic pain, veteran, musculoskeletal pain, yoga
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
YogaBehavioural
A 12-week online yoga course designed to treat pain.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Behavioural
A 12-week behavioral therapy course designed to treat pain.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Online Yoga | Experimental | Postures, meditation, breathing exercises Receives: Behavioral: Yoga |
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Active comparator | Behavioral medicine Receives: Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form)
The degree to which pain impacts mood, walking and other daily activities, as measured by the Pain Interference Scale of the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form (BPI-SF). The BPI-SF assesses intensity and impact of pain on functioning on a 0-10 rating scale, with higher scores indicating greater degree of interference.
Measured: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
Secondary outcomes (2)
Depression (BDI-II)
Symptoms of depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The BDI-II is comprised of 21 self-report questions, scored on a 0-3 scale, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
Sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The PSQI is a a self-rated questionnaire that assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month interval.
Measured: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Nov 2024
- Study start7 Jan 2026
- Primary completion1 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Nov 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 274 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Peter Bayley, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
- Investigators
- Peter Bayley, PhD, Principal investigator, Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06704061
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BAYNEW0004
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 29 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All demographic, clinical observations, and clinical self-reports
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Online Yoga vs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Treating Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06704061
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BAYNEW0004
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain
- Keywords
- chronic pain, veteran, musculoskeletal pain, yoga
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 274 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for ResearchUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will compare online yoga with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an established treatment for chronic pain. We will compare the efficacy of the two treatments for reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans.
Detailed description
This study will test if online yoga is not inferior than ACT for treating chronic pain in veterans. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either online yoga instruction or ACT, once a week for 12 weeks in an online group class. They will complete self-report questionnaires about their experience of chronic pain. There will be a 6-month follow up period, during which the research team will check in with the participant to record any adverse events and maintain study contact.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Online Yoga | Experimental | Behavioral: YogaPostures, meditation, breathing exercises |
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy | Active comparator | Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Behavioral medicine |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Veteran of the United States Armed Forces ≥ 18 years old
- Chronic pain > 6 months related to at least one musculoskeletal pain-related diagnosis indicated by an ICD-9 or -10 code
- Minimum pain intensity at screening ≥4 on a 0-10 using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
- Not begun new pain treatments or medications in the past month
- Stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to entry to the study
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Participation in another clinical trial, unless given prior authorization from both our research team and that of the other study
- Back surgery within the last 12 months
- Back pain potentially attributed to a specific known condition
- Baseline pain <4 or ≥9 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale
- Unstable, serious coexisting medical illness, mental illness or psychiatric conditions
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| YogaA 12-week online yoga course designed to treat pain. | Behavioural | Online Yoga |
| Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)A 12-week behavioral therapy course designed to treat pain. | Behavioural | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy |
Primary outcome
Pain Interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form)
Time frame: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
The degree to which pain impacts mood, walking and other daily activities, as measured by the Pain Interference Scale of the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form (BPI-SF). The BPI-SF assesses intensity and impact of pain on functioning on a 0-10 rating scale, with higher scores indicating greater degree of interference.
2 secondary outcomes
Depression (BDI-II)
Time frame: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
Sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Time frame: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All demographic, clinical observations, and clinical self-reports
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Peter Bayley, PhD principal investigator
Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Yoga and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in people with Chronic Pain and Musculoskeletal Pain, run by Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Peter Bayley, PhD (650-493-5000 ext. 68653, peter.bayley@va.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Interference (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form) (time frame: Baseline, End-of-treatment at 12 weeks, and 6 months after treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2026.