Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

SPRINT: Signature for Pain Recovery IN Teens

The SPRINT study is looking into why some teenagers with long-lasting muscle, bone, or joint pain recover, while others continue to experience pain. Many young people suffer from pain that significantly impacts their daily lives, and current treatments aren't always effective. Researchers want to identify biological and personal factors that predict whether pain will improve or stick around. By collecting different types of information and using advanced computer analysis, the study aims to uncover key indicators. This understanding could lead to more personalised and effective ways to help teenagers manage and overcome chronic pain, ultimately improving their quality of life.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Stanford University

Enrolment target

275

Start

28 Sep 2020

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Pain, Chronic Pain Joint Pain Musculoskeletal Pain

What is this study about?

The SPRINT study is all about understanding long-lasting pain in teenagers. We know that up to 5% of young people in places like the US (which is about 3.5 million teens!) experience pain in their muscles, bones, or joints that doesn't go away. This kind of pain can make it really hard to go to school, do sports, or enjoy time with friends, and unfortunately, current treatments don't always work as well as we’d like. In fact, only about half of teens who get help for their pain actually feel a lot better.

This study's main goal is to find out why some teenagers recover from this long-lasting pain while others don't. Researchers believe there are important clues hidden in our bodies and in our experiences that can predict who will get better. By discovering these clues, the hope is to develop much better and more individualised treatments. This means finding out what works best for each person, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The SPRINT team includes experienced doctors and scientists from top universities. They will gather lots of information from participants, including details about their health, physical tests, and possibly brain scans or blood samples. All this information will be analysed using powerful computer methods to find patterns that explain why some teens recover. This could really change how we help young people deal with persistent pain.

Key takeaways

The study focuses on understanding long-lasting pain in teenagers.
It aims to find out why some teens recover while others don't.
Researchers hope to develop better, more personalised pain treatments.
Participation involves various health assessments and possibly scans.
You can stop participating at any time.
This research could significantly improve future care for young people with chronic pain.

Who may be eligible?

The SPRINT study is looking for teenagers aged between 11 and 18 years old. To be considered, you must have chronic pain in your muscles, bones, or joints that has lasted for more than three months, and it should be affecting your daily life quite a bit. Your pain level should be moderate to severe, and you'll need to be able to understand and speak English to take part.

However, there are some reasons why someone might not be able to join. This includes having other serious health problems, such as significant brain injuries, severe mental health conditions like an eating disorder, or certain neurological problems. If you're pregnant, have a pacemaker, or other things that make MRI scans unsafe, or weigh over 285 lbs, you wouldn't be able to participate. Also, if you've been taking opioid medication for longer than a month, you wouldn't be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 11 and 18 years old?
Have you had ongoing pain in your muscles, bones, or joints for over 3 months?
Does this pain significantly affect your daily life?
Can you speak and understand English?
Are you generally healthy, without other serious medical or mental health conditions?
Are you able to have an MRI scan (e.g., no pacemakers, no severe claustrophobia)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The detailed description of participation isn't available in the provided text. However, based on the study's aims, it's likely that taking part would involve several visits to a clinic. These visits would probably include filling out questionnaires about your pain and how it affects you, as well as physical examinations. You might also have imaging scans, such as an MRI, and possibly provide samples like blood or saliva. The study mentions collecting 'measurements across multiple dimensions,' suggesting a comprehensive evaluation. The total duration of participation and how often you'd need to visit would be explained by the study team if you decided to enquire.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in a study like SPRINT might offer some potential benefits, such as contributing to new knowledge that could help future generations of teenagers with chronic pain. You might also gain a better understanding of your own condition through the assessments. However, there could be some risks, including the time commitment for appointments, discomfort from procedures like blood tests or lengthy scans, and the possibility of receiving no direct health benefit yourself. You always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (4)

Stanford University
Verified postcode
Palo Alto, United States
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Verified postcode
Cincinnati, United States
Hospital for Sick Children
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada
University of Barcelona
Verified postcode
Barcelona, Spain

Common questions

What kind of pain is the study looking at?

The study is for teenagers who have chronic (long-lasting) pain in their muscles, bones, or joints that has been present for more than three months.

What does 'chronic musculoskeletal pain' mean?

It refers to pain in your muscles, bones, or joints that has lasted for a long time, usually more than three months, and isn't caused by another specific illness like arthritis.

How long will the study last?

The information provided doesn't state the exact duration of the study or how long each participant would be involved. This would be explained by the research team.

Will I get paid to be in the study?

The provided information does not mention any payment for participation. Details like this are usually discussed directly with potential participants by the study team.

What if I decide I don't want to be in the study after joining?

You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without needing to explain why, and it will not affect your usual medical care.