Associate Professor Sean Rundell, PT, DPT, PhD, has received a subaward as site principal investigator for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study aimed at helping people recover more successfully after lumbar spine surgery.
The study, Physical Activity intervention to improve Surgical Spine outcomes (PASS), will test whether a personalized program that combines physical activity with pain management and behavior-change strategies can improve recovery after surgery for degenerative spine conditions. Participants will receive support to stay active, learn skills for managing pain, and use wearable technology that provides feedback on their activity levels. Researchers will compare the program with standard physical activity education.
As the University of Washington site principal investigator, Rundell will oversee the University's participation in the study. The project is funded through a National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health R01 award led by Dr. Kristin Archer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The five-year project runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2031, and includes an estimated $444,269 subaward to UW.
Researchers hope the findings will lead to better ways to help people stay active, manage pain, and improve their long-term recovery after spine surgery.