# Stress Reactivity and Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Influences on Disability (ReLOAD)

> **NIH NIH K76** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $222,531

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 This application for the Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging (K76) is for
Dr. Corey Simon, a physical therapist and geriatric pain researcher specializing in low back pain. Low back
pain is one of the world’s most disabling conditions for older adults, with more than 75% reporting persistent
disability 1-2 years after onset. A novel disability mechanism among older adults with low back pain is high
stress reactivity, which is an acute physiologic response characterized by abnormal changes in blood
biomarkers after stressful encounters. High stress reactivity is linked to poorer health outcomes including
disability in other chronic conditions; and accumulating research suggests high stress reactivity is mediated by
abnormal thoughts and feelings and is modifiable through biobehavioral interventions. However, stress
reactivity research in older adults with low back pain is lacking. This proposal in an innovative 5-year research
program that builds upon Dr. Simon’s pilot study demonstrating exciting preliminary associations between
stress reactivity, physical function, and psychological distress. This proposal will utilize novel laboratory stress
reactivity tests, patient-reported outcomes, and qualitative interviews to: 1) Identify and quantify stress
reactivity in older adults with low back pain; and 2) For the purpose of reducing disability risks, develop a
biobehavioral intervention that targets high stress reactivity in older adults with low back pain. This program will
test his central hypothesis that older adults with low back pain and high stress reactivity are at greater risk for
disability due to negative thoughts and feelings and poor coping strategies. In addition, this program will
provide Dr. Simon with advanced career development in stress reactivity science, behavioral intervention
development, and research leadership. Upon completion of this program, Dr. Simon will be poised to facilitate
the development of an NIA-funded clinical trial (R34/R01) to test the efficacy of his innovative biobehavioral
rehabilitation intervention for older adults with low back pain that targets high stress reactivity. Collectively, this
program is the next step in Dr. Simon’s long-term goal to become an international leader in the development of
targeted interventions to eradicate disability in older adults with low back pain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912565
- **Project number:** 5K76AG074943-03
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Corey Simon
- **Activity code:** K76 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $222,531
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912565

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912565, Stress Reactivity and Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Influences on Disability (ReLOAD) (5K76AG074943-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912565. Licensed CC0.

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