PRT for Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent and often debilitating condition that can impact daily functioning, occupational performance, and overall quality of life. In approximately 90% of individuals, CLBP persists in the absence of identifiable structural pathology and is thought to be related to altered processing of pain within the nervous system. As a result, there is a need for innovative, non-invasive treatment approaches that address these underlying mechanisms and move beyond traditional biomedical models of care. This single-centre pilot study will evaluate Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), a psychological intervention designed to modify maladaptive pain perceptions by targeting central pain processing and reducing fear associated with pain. The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of PRT in individuals with chronic low back pain, while also evaluating recruitment, retention, and adherence to the intervention. A total of 30 adults will be recruited and randomized to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive eight weekly sessions of PRT, while the control group (Monitoring and Education) will participate in a structured program consisting of health education and physical activity monitoring. Participants will complete validated questionnaires and physical and sensory assessments measuring pain intensity, functional status, mood, sleep, and physical performance at baseline, post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. Objective activity data will also be collected using wearable monitors throughout the eight week intervention period. The results of this study will provide important preliminary data regarding the feasibility and potential clinical benefit of PRT and will inform the design of future larger-scale trials aimed at improving the management of chronic low back pain using PRT.