Rehabilitation With Empowered STrategies to Optimize REcovery
Rehabilitation With Empowered STrategies to Optimize REcovery After Spine Surgery
Who can join
Ages 18 to 85 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Surgical treatment of a lumbar degenerative condition using a laminectomy and/or fusion procedure * English speaking * Age between 18-85 years Exclusion Criteria: * Surgery due to trauma, fracture, tumor, infection, or spinal deformity * Revision surgery * Prior history of lumbar spine surgery in last 12 months * Involved in litigation or a workers' compensation claim due to injury * Currently undergoing treatment for cancer * Unable to access a reliable internet connection * Unable to provide a stable telephone or physical address * Unable to participate in follow-up assessment for 6 months after surgery
About the study
The main goal of this clinical trial is to understand the benefits of remotely delivered Empowered Relief in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. The main question the trial aims to answer is:
Does a postoperative behavioral intervention, Empowered Relief, performed early after back surgery have a measurable impact on postoperative outcomes?
Additional questions are whether changes in pain catastrophizing are related to improvements in outcomes and whether preoperative pain catastrophizing is a moderator of response to treatment.
Researchers will compare remotely delivered Empowered Relief to remotely delivered education to see if Empowered Relief helps patients manage their pain and functional limitations after back surgery.
Participants will:
* Complete one group session of remotely delivered Empowered Relief or Education after back surgery * Complete surveys before surgery and 3- and 6-months after surgery
What is being tested
- Empowered Relief (behavioral)
- Education (other)
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Participants: 100 · Started: Feb 24, 2026
Contact the study team
- Kristin Archer, PhD · Phone: 615-322-2732
- Amanda Priest · Phone: 615-421-8336
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07406997
Locations in the U.S.
| Hawaii | Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu (Not yet recruiting) |
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville |
| Texas | Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston (Not yet recruiting) |
| Washington | Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord (Not yet recruiting) |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.