Phase III SLEEPFIT Trial: Exercise vs CBT-I vs Combined Therapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain with Sleep Disorders — Australian Multi-Site Study
247 Health News Editorial
·16 Apr 2026
·4 min read
·clinical-trialsThe SLEEPFIT trial compares exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, and combined approaches in 384 Australian patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and sleep disorders. This University of Sydney-led study uses telehealth delivery to evaluate optimal non-pharmacological treatments for this challenging dual presentation.
Originally reported by ClinicalTrials.gov
References
- 1.Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Chronic musculoskeletal conditions. AIHW. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions
- 2.Buysse, D. J. (2014). Sleep health: can we define it? Does it matter? Sleep, 37(1), 9-17. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3298
- 3.Eccleston, C., Fisher, E., Craig, L., Duggan, G. B., Rosser, B. A., & Keogh, E. (2014). Psychological therapies (Internet-delivered) for the management of chronic pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(2), CD010152. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010152.pub2
- 4.Finan, P. H., Goodin, B. R., & Smith, M. T. (2013). The association of sleep and pain: an update and a path forward. Journal of Pain, 14(12), 1539-1552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.08.007
- 5.Foster, N. E., Anema, J. R., Cherkin, D., Chou, R., Cohen, S. P., Gross, D. P., Ferreira, P. H., Fritz, J. M., Koes, B. W., Peul, W., Turner, J. A., & Maher, C. G. (2018). Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet, 391(10137), 2368-2383. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30489-6
- 6.Mathias, J. L., Cant, M. L., & Burke, A. L. (2018). Sleep disturbances and sleep disorders in adults living with chronic pain: a meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine, 52, 198-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2018.05.023
- 7.Qaseem, A., Wilt, T. J., McLean, R. M., Forciea, M. A., Denberg, T. D., Barry, M. J., Boyd, C., Chow, R. D., Fitterman, N., Harris, R. P., Humphrey, L. L., Vijan, S., & Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(7), 514-530. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2367
- 8.Riemann, D., Baglioni, C., Bassetti, C., Bjorvatn, B., Dolenc Groselj, L., Ellis, J. G., Espie, C. A., Garcia-Borreguero, D., Gjerstad, M., Gonçalves, M., Hertenstein, E., Jansson-Fröjmark, M., Jennum, P. J., Leger, D., Nissen, C., Parrino, L., Paunio, T., Pevernagie, D., Verbraecken, J., ... Spiegelhalder, K. (2017). European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. Journal of Sleep Research, 26(6), 675-700. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12594
- 9.Schulz, K. F., Altman, D. G., & Moher, D. (2010). CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ, 340, c332. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c332
- 10.University of Sydney. (2024). Comparative effectiveness of exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, and their combination for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and poor sleep: SLEEPFIT trial. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07532070. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07532070
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247 Health News Editorial
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