Mindfulness meditation may ease chronic back pain in seniors

NCT ID NCT06384001

Symptom relief Sponsor: Florida State University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tests whether a two-week daily mindfulness meditation program can reduce pain and improve daily function in older adults with chronic low back pain. Researchers will also explore how meditation affects the gut-brain connection. The trial aims to recruit 66 participants aged 50 and older who have had moderate low back pain for at least three months.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: mindfulness-based meditation
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to manage chronic low back pain in older adults.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early pilot study with only 66 participants and no comparison to other treatments. Results may not apply to everyone, and the meditation requires daily commitment.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 66 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Sep 2025

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

50 to 89 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. aged 50 years older 2. intact cognition (examined by the Mini-Mental State Exam, ≥ 24) 3. experiencing moderate low back pain daily or almost every day at least the previous three months (≥3 out of 10 on numeric rating scale \[NRS\]) 4. able to speak and read English 5. not intent to change medication regimens for pain throughout the trial Exclusion Criteria: 1. serious underlying illness (e.g., malignant neoplasms, bloodborne illness, low blood platelet count, been in chemotherapy) 2. psychosis 3. function limitation precluded the meditation practice 4. participated meditation program before 5. no access to the internet

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Chronic low-back pain are added.

Vår säkerhetsrekommendation!

Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Chronic low-back pain

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

Open the record ↗
A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Mindfulness meditation may ease chronic back pain in seniors

What the study statuses mean