A Multicomponent Intervention for Patients with Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: Move-MORE
The Move-MORE study is designed to evaluate a multicomponent mindfulness and movement program for patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. The program brings together mindfulness training to help participants develop awareness of their body and manage pain-related stress, gentle movement practice to improve comfort with physical activity and support function, and motivational interviewing to strengthen motivation, confidence, and the ability to make healthy changes.
The main objectives are to determine whether it is feasible for participants to use each component of the program when delivered online, to assess how acceptable and engaging each component is, and to evaluate the impact on pain, physical function, and daily activity levels. The study intervention will be conducted entirely remotely. Participants will complete online surveys, brief daily check-ins on their phone, and wear a small activity monitor on the hip to measure movement. They will also undergo quantitative sensory testing to evaluate pain sensitivity. At the end of the program, participants will share feedback about their experiences via qualitative interviews.
The findings will help identify which parts of the program provide the greatest benefit, with the ultimate goal of developing a more targeted and effective digital program for people with this condition.
Interested in Participating? Do you have low back pain that radiates down your leg?
Help us learn how mindfulness and gentle physical activity impact pain and quality of life. Eligible participants will be compensated with up to $400.
Eligibility Requirements
Age 18-75
Low back pain that extends below the knee
Engagement in mindfulness and gentle movement
Attend weekly two-hour Zoom sessions for seven weeks
Attend two study visits at Helfgott Research Institute in Portland, OR
To learn more, please call our study coordinator at (503)-552-1741, or email: morestudy@nunm.edu
This study is being conducted by the Helfgott Research Institute at National University of Natural Medicine (IRB #RW6625, Principal Investigator: Ryan Wexler, ND, MS)
Developing the Move-MORE Intervention
The Move-MORE intervention was developed through an iterative, patient-centered design process to support adults with lumbosacral radicular pain in improving function and well-being. Rooted in self-determination theory, the program integrates three synergistic components—mindfulness training, gentle movement practice (adapted from Qigong), and motivational interviewing—to enhance autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the recovery process. Development began with qualitative clinician interviews and patient focus groups to identify barriers and facilitators to engagement, followed by iterative prototyping of program components. Feedback from patient partners, clinicians, and behavioral scientists informed refinements to language, pacing, and intervention content to ensure accessibility and relevance across pain severity levels. The resulting multicomponent intervention is designed to promote mindful movement, psychological flexibility, and intrinsic motivation to sustain behavior change and functional improvement.
Move-MORE’s Conceptual Model
The Move-MORE conceptual model illustrates how its three primary components—mindfulness, movement/physical activity, and self-determination theory–based motivation—work synergistically to influence a cascade of psychological and behavioral mechanisms that ultimately improve pain and function. Mindfulness practices (including reappraisal, savoring, and pain education) are designed to reduce attention interference and enhance interoception, fostering more adaptive pain reappraisal. Movement practices (graded, enjoyable physical activity) aim to reduce kinesiophobia and pain interference by building confidence and positive affect toward movement. The self-determination component targets autonomy, competence, and relatedness, promoting self-regulation and sustained engagement in activity. These proximal mechanisms interact (i.e., interoception, reappraisal, and self-regulation reinforce one another) leading to increased movement and decreased disability. The model underscores a multilevel pathway in which psychological flexibility and intrinsic motivation mediate the effects of mindfulness and movement on functional recovery.
Research Products
Conference Abstract
Title: Integrating Mindfulness and Movement: A Mixed Methods Study for Managing Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
Conference: 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine
