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Chronic PainNCT07583368

Chronic Pain, Emotions and Professional Football

An observational study of Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain (Back / Neck), run by Evidence In Motion at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Chronic pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, including emotions and environmental context. Prior research demonstrates that emotional states and psychosocial processes such as depression, fear-avoidance, and catastrophizing significantly shape the pain experience. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Chronic Pain, Chronic Pain (Back / Neck)
How many people
32 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
18 Jul 2025to 9 Jan 2026
How long will I take part?
18 Weeks
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study will include self-identified adults aged 18 and above who have experienced chronic pain (>1 year) and meet the criteria for avid professional football fans.

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 and above
  • Chronic pain > 1 year
  • Provide written consent
  • Proficient in reading and understanding English
  • Identify as an avid football fan of a current US professional football team (NFL). Criteria include:
  • Watching all/most of their team's games during the season
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Watching games of their main competitor
  • Engage in social media regarding their team during and outside of the season
  • Wears team apparel during and outside of the season

Who cannot join

  • Not willing to participate in the study
  • Not willing to comply with weekly data collection requirements
  • Do not meet the criteria for being classified as an avid football fan.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Evidence in Motion

    Story City, Iowa, 50248

Other trials in United States

About this study

Chronic pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, including emotions and environmental context. Prior research demonstrates that emotional states and psychosocial processes such as depression, fear-avoidance, and catastrophizing significantly shape the pain experience. Professional sports fandom is known to influence emotional well-being, but its relationship to chronic pain has not yet been examined. This longitudinal observational study aims to evaluate whether weekly performance outcomes of participants' favorite U.S. professional football (NFL) teams are associated with fluctuations in self-reported pain intensity, depression, and pain catastrophization among adults with chronic pain who identify as avid football fans. Participants will complete weekly online surveys throughout the NFL regular season, reporting pain ratings (NPRS) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-2). Team performance (win/loss, played/did not play, rival results) will be recorded by the research team. The study seeks to determine whether sports-related emotional fluctuations correlate with changes in chronic pain experiences.

Read the detailed description

Chronic pain is now widely recognized as a complex biopsychosocial condition rather than a purely physical phenomenon. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an "unpleasant sensory and emotional experience," and neuroimaging studies reveal that chronic pain involves shifting brain activation from nociceptive to cognitive and emotional circuits over time. This evolving understanding underscores the role of emotions, cognitions, and psychosocial factors in shaping the pain experience and contributes to the clinical difficulty of managing chronic pain.

Psychological factors-including fear-avoidance, catastrophizing, and depression-are known to strongly influence pain severity and disability. While these constructs are often tied to biomedical explanations (e.g., structural imaging findings), such explanations may increase fear or negative expectations and do not fully account for pain severity in many individuals. Social factors also interact with psychological processes to shape pain experiences, yet they remain understudied. One such social factor may be the emotional impact of a chronic pain sufferer's favorite sports team performance.

Sports fandom research demonstrates that strong fan identification provides psychological benefits such as belonging, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Neuroimaging evidence suggests that sports-related wins activate reward networks, while losses trigger introspective and negative emotional states. Despite these findings, the potential link between weekly sports team performance and symptom fluctuations in people living with chronic pain has not been directly investigated.

This longitudinal observational study will examine whether weekly changes in the performance of participants' preferred NFL football team correlate with changes in self-reported chronic pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), and pain catastrophization (Pain Catastrophizing Scale). Participants will be adults aged 18 or older with chronic pain lasting more than one year and who meet predefined criteria for being avid fans of a current NFL team.

Following informed consent, participants will complete baseline demographic and clinical questionnaires. Each week throughout the NFL regular season, participants will receive a brief online survey assessing their pain and depressive symptoms. Independent of participant responses, the research team will document whether the participant's team played, whether they won or lost, and the performance of the team's primary rival.

Data will be analyzed descriptively and through inferential statistics to determine whether emotional changes associated with team performance are associated with clinically meaningful weekly changes in pain, depression, or catastrophizing. This study aims to generate preliminary evidence regarding the interaction between sports-related emotional experiences and chronic pain, potentially identifying a novel social component relevant to understanding pain variability.

Being tested
No Intervention: Observational Cohort
Keywords
Chronic pain, Depression, Pain catastrophizing, Emotional states, Psychosocial factors, Sports fandom, Professional football (NFL), Pain intensity, Longitudinal observational study, Pain rating scale, PHQ-2, Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Medical subject headings
Chronic Pain, Depression, Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • No Intervention: Observational CohortOther

    No Intervention: Observational Cohort

Study groups in NCT07583368
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cohort 1: Avid NFL Fans with Chronic PainParticipants in this cohort are adults aged 18 or older who have experienced chronic pain for more than one year and meet predefined criteria for being avid fans of an active U.S. professional football (NFL) team. All participants will complete baseline demographic and clinical questionnaires and will provide weekly self-reported measures of pain intensity (NPRS) and depressive symptoms (PHQ-2) throughout the NFL regular season. Team performance variables (game played, win/loss outcome, rival results) will be collected by the research team. Study Activities: Baseline demographic and football-related fan profile questionnaire Baseline Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) Weekly NPRS and PHQ-2 surveys End-of-season PCS Research team documentation of weekly team performance and rival performance Purpose: To evaluate whether weekly NFL team performance is associated with fluctuations in pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and catastrophizing in individuals living with chronic pain
Receives: Other: No Intervention: Observational Cohort

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS)

    Self-reported musculoskeletal pain intensity will be measured using the 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst pain imaginable." Participants will report their average pain over the past week.

    Measured: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).

  2. Depressive Symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 - PHQ-2)

    Depressive symptoms will be measured using the 2-item PHQ-2, assessing anhedonia and depressed mood. Each item is rated 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), generating a score from 0-6.

    Measured: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Pain Catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale - PCS)

    The PCS is a 13-item questionnaire assessing rumination, magnification, and helplessness related to pain. Each item is rated 0-4, with total scores ranging from 0-52. Higher scores indicate greater catastrophizing.

    Measured: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).

  2. Correlation Between Weekly Team Performance and Symptom Changes

    Team performance will be operationalized as:

    Win, Loss, or Did Not Play,

    Rival team win/loss,

    Margin of victory/defeat. These variables will be analyzed against weekly NPRS and PHQ-2 scores to determine associations between sports-related emotional events and chronic pain symptoms.

    Measured: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).

  3. Weekly Response Rate / Completion Rate

    Proportion of participants completing each weekly survey.

    Measured: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 May 2026
  2. Study start18 Jul 2025
  3. Primary completion9 Jan 2026
  4. Study completion9 Jan 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
32 participants (actual)
Target duration
18 Weeks
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07583368
Sponsor's protocol ID
NFLStudy2025
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
11 Mar 2026
Last updated
13 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • George SZ, Valencia C, Beneciuk JM. A psychometric investigation of fear-avoidance model measures in patients with chronic low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2010 Apr;40(4):197-205. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2010.3298.

    PubMed 20357418
  • Moseley GL. Evidence for a direct relationship between cognitive and physical change during an education intervention in people with chronic low back pain. Eur J Pain. 2004 Feb;8(1):39-45. doi: 10.1016/S1090-3801(03)00063-6.

    PubMed 14690673
  • Moseley GL, Nicholas MK, Hodges PW. A randomized controlled trial of intensive neurophysiology education in chronic low back pain. Clin J Pain. 2004 Sep-Oct;20(5):324-30. doi: 10.1097/00002508-200409000-00007.

    PubMed 15322439
  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.

    PubMed 11556941
  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: validity of a two-item depression screener. Med Care. 2003 Nov;41(11):1284-92. doi: 10.1097/01.MLR.0000093487.78664.3C.

    PubMed 14583691
  • Farrar JT, Young JP Jr, LaMoreaux L, Werth JL, Poole MR. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Pain. 2001 Nov;94(2):149-158. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(01)00349-9.

    PubMed 11690728
  • Salaffi F, Stancati A, Silvestri CA, Ciapetti A, Grassi W. Minimal clinically important changes in chronic musculoskeletal pain intensity measured on a numerical rating scale. Eur J Pain. 2004 Aug;8(4):283-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2003.09.004.

    PubMed 15207508
  • Wann DL. The "noble" sports fan: the relationships between team identification, self-esteem, and aggression. Percept Mot Skills. 1994 Jun;78(3 Pt 1):864-6. doi: 10.1177/003151259407800337.

    PubMed 8084705
  • Jull G, Sterling M. Bring back the biopsychosocial model for neck pain disorders. Man Ther. 2009 Apr;14(2):117-8. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2009.01.004. No abstract available.

    PubMed 19218070
  • Stewart M, Loftus S. Sticks and Stones: The Impact of Language in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018 Jul;48(7):519-522. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2018.0610.

    PubMed 30067920
  • Sloan TJ, Walsh DA. Explanatory and diagnostic labels and perceived prognosis in chronic low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Oct 1;35(21):E1120-5. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181e089a9.

    PubMed 20838269
  • Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, Bresnahan BW, Chen LE, Deyo RA, Halabi S, Turner JA, Avins AL, James K, Wald JT, Kallmes DF, Jarvik JG. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Apr;36(4):811-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173. Epub 2014 Nov 27.

    PubMed 25430861
  • Nijs J, Roussel N, Paul van Wilgen C, Koke A, Smeets R. Thinking beyond muscles and joints: therapists' and patients' attitudes and beliefs regarding chronic musculoskeletal pain are key to applying effective treatment. Man Ther. 2013 Apr;18(2):96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2012.11.001. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

    PubMed 23273516
  • van Meulenbroek T, Huijnen IPJ, Simons LE, Conijn AEA, Engelbert RHH, Verbunt JA. Exploring the underlying mechanism of pain-related disability in hypermobile adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Scand J Pain. 2020 Aug 31;21(1):22-31. doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2020-0023. Print 2021 Jan 27.

    PubMed 32862151
  • Vlaeyen JWS, Crombez G, Linton SJ. The fear-avoidance model of pain. Pain. 2016 Aug;157(8):1588-1589. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000574. No abstract available.

    PubMed 27428892

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain (Back / Neck), run by Evidence In Motion at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS) (time frame: Weekly assessments from study enrollment through the end of the NFL regular season (approximately September 2025 to January 2026).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07583368, which also lists 20 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 May 2026.

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