Recruiting

Movement Pattern Training

Sponsor:

Washington University School of Medicine

Code:

NCT07749547

Conditions

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Movement Pattern Training (MoveTrain)

Usual Care

Study Details

Brief summary:

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness, making it hard for people to do everyday tasks. Movement pattern training is a special, personalized rehabilitation program that aims to reduce pain by improving how people move during their daily activities. The investigators plan to test if it's possible to conduct a detailed study to find out how effective Movement pattern training is for people with PMR. The investigators will look at whether it helps them perform activities they want to do, reduce their use of certain medications, and strengthen their muscles. The investigators will also gather feedback from patients about their experience with Movement pattern training. This study will help us understand if carrying out a larger study on Movement pattern training's effectiveness is practical.

Conditions

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Study ID

NCT07749547

Start date

Aug 15, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Mar 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient reports a diagnosis or flare of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) < 5 months before the screening contact
  • Diagnosis or flare of PMR according to the European League against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (EULAR/ACR) classification criteria as follows (must satisfy all criteria)10:

  • Age ≥50 years at time of diagnosis
  • Presence of bilateral shoulder pain
  • Elevated acute phase reactants C-reactive protein (CRP) >10 milligram/Liter and/or Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) >30 millimeters/hour\*
  • A score ≥4 at the time of diagnosis based on the following (without ultrasound):

  • Duration of morning stiffness >45 minutes: 2 points
  • Hip pain or limited range of motion: 1 point
  • Seronegative for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide: 2 points
  • Absence of other joint involvement: 1 point
  • Initiated pharmacological treatment
  • Able to give informed consent
  • Physician's clearance to participate in physical activity

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of fibromyalgia, neuropathic muscular disease, complex regional pain syndrome, or small fiber neuropathy
  • planned major surgical procedure during the study
  • Current active uncontrolled infection

Study Design

Enrollment

20 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Usual Care

Patients will be encouraged to complete their treatment as described by their physician.

experimental: Movement Pattern Training (MoveTrain)

Movement pattern Training (MoveTrain) is progressive activity-specific training to improve altered joint motion during patient-specific tasks. At baseline, each patient identifies specific activities (e.g., getting out of bed), work (e.g., reaching overhead), and physical activities (e.g., cycling) that are difficult due to their pain. A movement examination is performed to identify the altered joint motion on associated with movement-evoked pain and the motion modification that reduces their pain. The treatment provider then instructs the patient in activity-specific training, which includes practicing multiple repetitions of the modified activity as their home exercise program. Patients also are instructed to use the trained modified motion during their daily activities to maximize their use in daily routines. This encourages frequent practice and potentially greater program sustainability.

Interventions

Movement Pattern Training (MoveTrain)

6 individualized treatment sessions over 10 weeks

  • Motivational interviewing to determine personal goals and strengthen motivation and commitment to change
  • Activity-specific training to practice modified motion during patient-specific tasks, defined as activities reported by each patient as pain-provoking
  • Home exercise program 3 times/week consisting of activities or exercises assigned in the supervised sessions
  • Patient's independence and adherence in performing home exercise program will be documented
  • Patients are encouraged to use modified motion during daily and physical activities
  • Based on patient performance, activity difficulty is progressed by increasing repetitions performed or increasing load or speed

Usual Care

  • Basic education about polymyalgia rheumatica, benefits of physical activity
  • Patients will be encouraged to participate in physical activity as tolerated
  • Medication as prescribed by their physician

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of potential participants accessed. [ Time Frame: 7 months ]
  • Percent of eligible participants who were willing to be randomized [ Time Frame: 7 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Marcie Harris-Hayes, DPT, MSCI

314-286-1435harrisma@wustl.edu

Locations

Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy

Recruiting

St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

Contacts

Marcie Harris-Hayes, PT, DPT, MSCI

314-286-1435harrisma@wustl.edu

Principal Investigator:

Marcie Harris-Hayes, PT, DPT, MSCI

More Information

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Last update posted

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Keywords

  • rehabilitation
  • physical therapy

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Washington University School of Medicine on 2026-10-07. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.