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Personalised physiotherapy treatment for young people experiencing pain

Muscle, joint, and bone pains are common in teenagers. While most injuries heal quickly, some young people experience ongoing pain that affects school, friendships, and daily life. Physiotherapy helps, but teenagers often say their care does not feel personal to them. Researchers at the University of Southampton are developing a new training guide to help NHS physiotherapists tailor treatment to each teenager's specific needs. The study team is inviting young people aged 14 to 18 who have had NHS physiotherapy for pain, as well as their parents and NHS physiotherapists, to share their experiences. Participants will take part in interactive workshops or feedback interviews to help design the training programme. Taking part will not change your current medical care, but your insights could make a real difference to future physiotherapy care across the NHS.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University of Southampton

Enrolment target

Start

21 Aug 2024

Estimated completion

24 Oct 2025

Musculoskeletal pain

What is this study about?

Aches, sprains, and growing pains are a normal part of growing up. However, for some teenagers, muscle and joint pain can stick around for weeks or months. This type of pain can get in the way of hobbies, school, and spending time with friends. Physiotherapy is one of the best ways to manage these symptoms, but every young person is different. The World Health Organization has highlighted that teenagers want their care to feel more personalised, but physiotherapists need better tools and training to make this happen.

This study, called the PCAP-MSK study, aims to fix that. Researchers want to create a practical training package for NHS physiotherapists so they can deliver care that truly fits each young person. To ensure the new programme works well in real life, the researchers are asking the real experts for help: young people who have lived through joint or muscle pain, the parents who support them, and the physiotherapists who treat them.

By taking part, you will help decide how physiotherapy sessions are planned and what resources are used. The project runs until autumn 2025. Once the training package is finished, it will be tested in a larger NHS study to see how much it improves recovery for young people in the future.

Key takeaways

A UK research study aimed at making NHS physiotherapy more personal for teenagers.
Open to teenagers aged 14 to 18 with past muscle or joint pain, their parents, and NHS physiotherapists.
Involves sharing your thoughts in an interactive workshop or a one-hour feedback interview.
No medicines, physical workouts, or painful tests are involved.
Run by the University of Southampton and funded by the Medical Research Foundation and Versus Arthritis.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to three groups of people: teenagers aged 14 to 18 who have received NHS outpatient physiotherapy for muscle, joint, or bone pain and are ready to be discharged; parents or guardians of these teenagers; and NHS physiotherapists who treat young people for these conditions.

The pain could be from an old sports injury, a sprain, a healed broken bone, growing pains like Osgood-Schlatter disease, or back and knee aches that have no clear injury. Teenagers must be finished with any active hospital medical treatments, such as surgery or fracture clinics.

You cannot take part if the young person is under 14 or over 18, or if the pain is caused by an ongoing long-term illness like juvenile idiopathic arthritis or cerebral palsy. It is also not suitable for people still waiting for hospital treatment, such as knee surgery, or for physiotherapists who only work in private clinics or with adults.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a teenager aged between 14 and 18, a parent of one, or an NHS physiotherapist?
Has the teenager had NHS outpatient physiotherapy for muscle, bone, or joint pain?
Has active hospital medical care (such as surgery or fracture clinics) finished?
Is the pain free from long-term medical conditions like juvenile arthritis or cerebral palsy?
Are you able to take part in an English-speaking discussion or interview?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part does not involve any new medicines, needles, or physical tests. Instead, it involves sharing your views and experiences in a research session. Teenagers may join a friendly, hands-on workshop lasting around an hour, or take part in a one-on-one interview. Parents and physiotherapists will be invited to take part in separate feedback interviews.

During these sessions, you will look at draft ideas and activities for the new physiotherapy training programme and tell the researchers what you think works well and what needs changing. You will be encouraged to stretch and move around during the session so your joints do not get stiff from sitting. The overall project runs until September 2025, but your personal involvement will usually be just a single workshop or interview.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct personal health benefits from taking part, and your current or future NHS treatment will not change whether you join or not. However, your feedback will help shape better, more personal physiotherapy care for other young people across the UK. The physical risks are very low because the study only involves discussions. The researchers will not ask upsetting personal questions, and you can take breaks whenever you like. Joining is completely voluntary, and you are free to stop or withdraw at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (1)

University of Southampton
Approximate
Southampton, England

Common questions

Will taking part help fix my joint or muscle pain?

No, this study is not a physiotherapy treatment. It is a research project designed to listen to your opinions so physiotherapists can be trained better in the future.

Do I have to do any exercises or physical tests?

No. You will only be asked to talk, review ideas, and share your experiences during a workshop or interview.

Where do the sessions take place?

The study is run by the University of Southampton. Sessions will be arranged either in person or remotely, and details will be shared when you register your interest.

Can I take part if I am still seeing a doctor for my injury?

You can only join if you have finished your active medical treatments (such as fracture clinic or surgery care) and are ready to be discharged from hospital services.

What happens if I change my mind after agreeing to join?

You can step down from the study at any point. Deciding to leave will not affect your standard NHS healthcare in any way.

How to find out more

Rhiannon Joslin

r.joslin@soton.ac.uk +44 (0)2380595000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.