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Yoga for Persistent Post-Surgical Pain

This study is exploring whether yoga can help people who experience persistent pain after surgery (Persistent Post-surgical Pain or PPSP). PPSP is pain in the surgical area that lasts more than three months. You could join if you are 18 or older, have had certain torso surgeries (like breast, abdominal, or C-section), and have had PPSP for at least three months with moderate pain levels. Participants will either take part in yoga classes or health education sessions for 12 weeks. The main goal of this study is to see if these programs are practical and acceptable to participants, helping to plan a larger study in the future. The study is currently recruiting about 50 people.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 50 participants. It's a pilot study to test the feasibility of a larger trial.
What's involved
You would participate in either three 75-minute yoga classes per week or three 15-30 minute health education sessions per week for 12 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study will track feasibility and acceptability for 36 months, but it's not specified if this involves participant follow-up after the 12-week intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06949007

Yoga for Persistent Post-Surgical Pain (PPSP)

Recruiting
NAAges 18+Interventional
Brigham and Women's Hospital
~50 participants
Updated 2026-05-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:YogaChronic Pain Health Education

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Enrollment
Measured over 36 months
+6 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Persistent Post-surgical Pain

Explore related trials

Persistent Post-surgical Pain

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Who to contact

Dennis Munoz-Vergara, DVM, MS, MPH
[email protected]
617-278-0917
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

History of torso surgeries. Examples are thoracotomy, sternotomy, mastectomy and breast implant, open abdominal surgeries, and cesarean section
Completion of surgery alone or surgery and complementary pharmacological treatment
Being 18 years of age or older
3 months with PPSP and 4/10 in BPI severity (clinically considered a moderate range)
Access to reliable modes of transportation for study visits and yoga classes
Confirmed access to and proficiency with use of a smartphone, computer, and/or tablet
Fluent in English.

Exclusion

History of joint replacement, amputation, orthopedic (except thoracotomy and sternotomy), and other non-torso surgeries
Participants with health conditions that lead to difficulty complying with study protocol (i.e., completion of outcome assessments and participation in yoga or CPHE programs), including: Renal dialysis, cognitive impairment, serious neurological or psychiatric disorders; Unstable cardiovascular disease, metastatic cancer, or serious chronic medical condition; Planned surgery during the intervention period; Chronic inflammatory systemic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis); Active acute or chronic infections requiring antibiotics; Unmanaged hearing or visual impairment affecting participation in virtual classes; Substance use disorder
Pregnancy or having the intention to become pregnant within the next six months
Recent (last 3 months) or concurrent participation in weekly MBMT (e.g., yoga, tai chi, qigong) programs, physical therapy, including massage and chiropractic care, or other non-pharmacological treatment as chronic pain management, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or meditation
Recent interventional pain management, defined as procedures such as corticosteroid injection, trigger point injection, and radiofrequency ablation to the cervical or lumbar region within the past 4 weeks and/or scheduled for interventional pain management procedures within the study timeframe.

What this trial measures

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Enrollment36 months

    ≥ 30% of contacted eligible participants will enroll. Assessment Instrument: REDCap report.

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Retention rate36 months

    ≥65% of randomized participants will attend all study visits and complete all outcome assessments. Assessment instrument: REDCap Report of three in-person study visits.

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Recruitment rate36 months

    Recruitment will be completed within 18 months (2-3 participants/month). Assessment instrument: REDCap report.

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Adherence to interventions (yoga and CPHE)36 months

    ≥75% of randomized participants will adhere to the intervention programs. Target: ≥75% Assessment instrument via Mycap survey-Meeting 75% adherence in the 12-week yoga program requires attending at least one class per week for at least 9 weeks. For home practice, 75% adherence (2+ days/week) corresponds to at least 18 sessions over 12 weeks. Participants can meet this goal by virtually attending additional group classes (up to three per week) or by engaging in 15-30 minutes of home practice, recorded in their weekly MyCap survey. Meeting 75% adherence in the 12-week CPHE program requires attending at least one class per week for at least 9 weeks (attendance to weekly PowerPoint presentation and completeness of weekly MyCap survey on CPHE program satisfaction).

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Intervention acceptability (yoga and CPHE)36 months

    ≥80% of participants will rate the intervention favorably. Target: ≥80% Assessment instrument via REDCap survey asking participants to rate (0=not at all to 10=very much) enjoyment, convenience, helpfulness, and overall satisfaction after each session and at T2 (post-intervention).

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Fidelity36 months

    ≥70% adherence to the structured yoga class components in 10% of observed classes. Assessment instrument: REDCap Report.

  • Feasibility and Acceptability for Aim 1-Outcome collection36 months

    ≥80% of PPSP-related outcome measures will be collected. Assessment instruments: REDCap report for clinical, psychophysical, and biological outcome collection.