Mindfulness and exposure therapy may ease fear after ACL surgery
NCT ID NCT05949177
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether combining graded exposure therapy with mindfulness meditation (via the Headspace app) can reduce injury-related fear and improve reaction time in people who had ACL reconstruction. Fifty participants aged 14-35, who are 6 months to 10 years post-surgery and have elevated fear, will be randomly assigned to the program or a waitlist. The goal is to help them feel less anxious about re-injury and move more confidently.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
graded exposure therapy and mindfulness meditation via the Headspace app
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to help people overcome fear of re-injury after ACL surgery and return to sports more confidently.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 50 people, and it compares the program to a waitlist (no active control). The results may not apply to everyone, and the benefits might be modest.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Woollen Gymnasium, 300 South Road
RECRUITINGChapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••