# Telemedicine intervention in patients with chronic pain in PD

> **NIH VA I01** · VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Project Background/Rationale. Pain is one of the most disabling and common nonmotor symptoms in
Parkinson’s disease (PD), with a prevalence of 40-85% (Broen et al., 2012). Research indicates that
undertreatment of pain is particularly high in the PD population. Only about one-half of patients with PD who
report pain receive regular pain medications (Broen et al., 2012; Negre-Pages et al., 2008; Beiske et al., 2009).
There is increasing interest in nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain in PD to supplement
pharmacological approaches. While there is evidence to support the utility of physical exercise to improve
chronic pain management, relatively less is known about the role of cognitive exercise.
Project Objective. We propose to conduct a pilot randomized, controlled trial in patients with chronic pain in PD
to assess the impact of physical and cognitive exercise interventions on pain outcomes.
Project Methods. A total of 166 community-dwelling veterans, 40 years of age or older, with chronic pain in
mild-to-moderate PD will be randomly assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial design to one of four groups (1 – combined
cognitive and physical intervention, 2 – physical intervention only, 3 – cognitive intervention only, 4 – health
education). We will test the effects of the interventions at 3 months for the outcomes pain severity and pain
interference, both assessed with the use of the Brief Pain Inventory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10733435
- **Project number:** 5I01RX003769-02
- **Recipient organization:** VA BOSTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID W. SPARROW
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-12-01 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10733435

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10733435, Telemedicine intervention in patients with chronic pain in PD (5I01RX003769-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10733435. Licensed CC0.

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