Rewiring the brain to fight back pain?

NCT ID NCT05169918

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether sensory discrimination training—a technique that sharpens the brain's ability to sense touch—can reduce pain and improve function in people with chronic low back pain linked to central sensitization. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either this brain-focused training or standard core stabilization exercises over 10 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in touch accuracy, pain sensitivity, and daily function to see if retraining the brain offers a new way to ease persistent back pain.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Sensory discrimination training (a type of brain retraining that sharpens touch perception) compared with core stabilization exercises
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new non-drug therapy for chronic low back pain that targets the brain's role in pain.
What could go wrong: This is a small early-stage trial, so results may not apply broadly. The training may not outperform standard exercises, and benefits could be modest.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BACK PAIN are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Back Pain Chronic Pain chronic pain syndrome Low Back Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BACK PAIN CENTRAL SENSITISATION CHRONIC PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.