Interdisciplinary Therapeutic Intervention for People With Persistent Pain

Summary

Study Objective The project aims to implement an interdisciplinary therapeutic program for people suffering from persistent pain (specifically fibromyalgia) to optimize their quality of life through a comprehensive approach that addresses physical, psychological, social, and nutritional dimensions.

What does the intervention consist of?

The initiative is a social innovation proposal structured around four fundamental pillars, carried out by a team of physical therapists (kinesiologists), nutritionists, and psychologists:

Adapted physical activity: Low-to-moderate intensity in-person sessions to improve cardiovascular capacity, reduce pain sensitivity, and promote general well-being.

Therapeutic education: Talks (online/in-person) to improve understanding of the condition and foster self-care.

Nutritional counseling: Assessment of nutritional status and guidance on anti-inflammatory nutrition, healthy habits, and key micronutrients.

Mental health workshops: Strategies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and stress management to improve emotional regulation and resilience.

Methodology and Participation Population: The study is aimed at individuals over 18 years old diagnosed with fibromyalgia who are members of the Fibromyalgia Corporation of the Valparaíso Region.

Procedure: It includes an initial assessment (pre-test), the implementation of the interdisciplinary program, and a final assessment (post-test) to measure functional, nutritional, and psychosocial changes.

Safety: The procedures are non-invasive. To minimize any physical or emotional discomfort, the team will implement a gradual progression in exercises and provide emotional support spaces in a safe and supportive environment.

Expected Benefits For participants: A significant improvement in their functional and nutritional status and psychosocial well-being is expected, positively impacting their quality of life and perceived pain levels.

For the community: The project seeks to make the needs of people with fibromyalgia visible, strengthen the local health network, and foster a more resilient and supportive community.

For professional training: By working under a service-learning model, Physical Therapy and Nutrition students will acquire practical skills by working in real contexts alongside professionals.

Ethical Commitments Confidentiality: All information will be treated with strict confidentiality protocols, using alphanumeric codes to anonymize user data.

Voluntariness: Participation is entirely voluntary. Interested individuals will receive clear information, will be able to resolve any doubts, and must sign an informed consent form before beginning.

Transparency: The study does not involve monetary incentives and has no conflicts of interest with external institutions.

This project is led by the principal investigator Marco Antonio Higueras Contreras, in collaboration with co-investigator Natalia María Muñoz Palma, both from the Department of Rehabilitation, Intervention, and Therapeutic Approach at the University of Playa Ancha.

Conditions

• Fybromyalgia

Interventions

OTHER

Multimodal Interdisciplinary Therapeutic Intervention

Participants receive an interdisciplinary program over two months, consisting of: 1) Adapted aerobic physical activity: two weekly sessions focusing on low-to-moderate intensity exercises. 2) Therapeutic education: online sessions covering pain pathophysiology and self-management strategies. 3) Mental health counseling: interventions based on cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and stress management. 4) Nutritional counseling: personalized assessment and dietary guidance focused on anti-inflammatory habits and symptom management. This intervention distinguishes itself from other studies through its unique social innovation model, which integrates professional healthcare with community-based agents. It utilizes a service-learning framework, where students provide care under expert supervision to foster mutual learning. Additionally, it targets a specific population-the Valparaíso Fibromyalgia Corporation-synchronizing four pillars for holistic patient empowerment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Playa Ancha University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marco Higueras, Master and Bachelor · University Playa Ancha

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-13

Primary Completion

2025-09-12

Completion

2025-10-31

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations