Physical activity intervention to improve surgical spine outcomes (PASS)

The National Institutes of Health Office of the Director awarded Vanderbilt University Medical Center $891,026 on August 1, 2026, under Trans-NIH Research Support (CFDA 93.310) to conduct a randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.

The award funds PASS (Physical Activity Intervention to Improve Surgical Spine Outcomes), a mind-body intervention combining brief action planning, motivational interviewing, pain coping skills, and wearable technology feedback to increase physical activity and improve long-term pain and functional outcomes after spine surgery. Prior pilot work demonstrated that patients who walk early after spine surgery achieve meaningful improvement in pain, disability, and opioid use. The trial will recruit 220 adults with degenerative lumbar spine conditions at three high-volume medical centers in the Southeast, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest regions. Eligible patients will be randomized after surgery to receive either eight weekly web-based sessions of PASS delivered by a physical therapist or standard-of-care physical activity education. Remote assessments will occur before surgery and at 6 and 12 months post-surgery, conducted by an evaluator blinded to randomization assignment.

Performance of work occurs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Forest Hills, Tennessee. The period of performance extends from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031.

Abstract

Degenerative spinal conditions are a major public health burden contributing to the united states (US) having the highest rate of lumbar spine surgery in the world. Despite surgical advances, up to 40% of patients report chronic pain and disability after surgery. Physical activity is an important determinant of recovery after spine surgery. Our own data demonstrate that patients who walk early after spine surgery are more likely to achieve meaningful improvement in pain, disability, and opioid use. To address physical inactivity and improve long- term outcomes, our research team recently completed a pilot trial of a physical activity intervention to improve surgical spine outcomes. Pass is a mind-body physical activity intervention based on a brief action planning (BAP) framework that integrates behavioral strategies with pain coping skills and individualized feedback from wearable technology (FITBIT). BAP involves self-management support through motivational interviewing, smart goals, and problem-solving to build self-efficacy and promote behavior change. Pilot work has shown the benefits of pass for improving physical activity and long-term pain-related and functional outcomes after lumbar spine surgery. Therefore, we propose a fully remote two-group randomized controlled trial at three high volume medical centers in the southeast, northeast, and pacific northwest regions of the US. We plan to recruit 220 adults with a degenerative lumbar spine condition undergoing spine surgery. Eligible patients will be randomized after surgery to (1) 8-session pass intervention or (2) standard of care physical activity education. The 8-session pass intervention is delivered weekly by a physical therapist using a web-based platform. Remote assessments will be conducted by an evaluator unaware of randomization assignment before surgery and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. We hypothesize that participants in a remotely delivered mind-body physical activity intervention will have higher objective physical activity at 6 months (primary outcome) and better pain, disability, physical function, mental health, and opioid use at 12 months (secondary outcomes) compared to standard of care physical activity education. Physical activity will be assessed through a triaxial accelerometer (ACTIGRAPH) and secondary outcomes through validated questionnaires and electronic health record data on opioid prescriptions. Exploratory data will be collected on depression (8-item patient health questionnaire), sleep (ACTIGRAPH), and heart rate variability (heart rate monitor) to assess overlapping mechanisms related to physical activity and pain-related outcomes. This study will be the first to investigate a mind-body postoperative rehabilitation program that targets multiple pathways for enhancing physical activity in order to achieve long-term impact after spine surgery. The results of our randomized trial will serve to broadly disseminate integrative physical and psychosocial strategies to physical therapists managing patients at-risk for poor surgical outcomes. There is an urgent need for older adults to have readily accessible mind-body treatments that allow them to take an active role in their care.