Reduced Opioid Analgesic Requirements Via Improved Endogenous Opioid Function
Chronic Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Pain focused on measuring Chronic Low Back Pain
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Intact cognitive status and ability to provide informed consent
- Ability to read and write in English sufficiently to understand and complete study questionnaires
- Age 18-55 inclusive
- Presence of persistent daily low back pain of at least three months duration and of at least a 3/10 in average intensity
Exclusion Criteria:
- Engagement in > 2 days/wk and > 60 min/wk of moderate or vigorous intensity activity based on responses to 6 validated survey questions at screening (CDC BRFSS)
- History of renal or hepatic dysfunction
- Current or past alcohol or substance dependence
- A history of PTSD, psychotic, or bipolar disorders
- Chronic pain due to malignancy (e.g., cancer), autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus), or fibromyalgia
- Recent daily opiate use
- Use of any opioid analgesic medications within 72 hours of study participation (confirmed through rapid urine screening conducted prior to study participation)
- Females who are pregnant
- History of cardiovascular disease (including myocardial infarction)
- History of seizure disorder
- Prior allergic reaction/intolerance to morphine or its analogs
- Presence of cardiac disease or any other medical condition that would make engaging in the aerobic exercise manipulation unsafe
Sites / Locations
- Rush University
- Vanderbilt University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
6 week aerobic exercise intervention
Normal exercise (control)
Participants randomly assigned to the exercise condition will complete an 18 session aerobic exercise manipulation supervised by an American College of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer (3 exercise sessions per week for 6 weeks). Immediately before and after participating in this intervention arm, participants will undergo laboratory evoked thermal pain response testing with placebo-controlled morphine and naloxone administration to assess mechanisms of exercise-related changes.
Participants assigned to the control condition will not undergo any exercise manipulation during this 6 week period, and will be asked to continue their current activity levels and not engage in any additional exercise activity during the study period. Immediately before and after participating in this intervention arm, participants will undergo laboratory evoked thermal pain response testing with placebo-controlled morphine and naloxone administration to assess mechanisms of exercise-related changes.