By Mariah Z. Leach
Aiden Pratt and his mom, Katie Pratt.
When Aiden Pratt was in seventh grade, he fell and hurt his foot while playing soccer. Doctors initially suspected a fracture, but his pain continued to worsen, until even having a sheet or breeze touch his foot was unbearable.
About two weeks later, he lost all feeling from his right hip down to his toes. Doctors initially diagnosed him with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and then functional neurological disorder (FND), which causes a heightened pain response to any injury or impact, especially in his affected leg.
Today, after two years of working hard on pain-relieving techniques, 15-year-old Aiden still lives with a numb leg and flaring pain.
“I’ve been seeing all these doctors ever since,” shares the Lincoln, California, teen. “I fall more, because I can’t feel my right side. I’m trying to get feeling back.”
While occasional pain is a common childhood experience—from skinned knees, bumps and bruises, or even broken bones—some kids, like Aiden, experience persistent pain. Whether it lingers after an injury or occurs as part of a chronic condition, pediatric pain can be difficult to quantify.
“His pain is not from a broken leg, so people will often question it,” shares Katie Pratt, Aiden’s mom. “They’ll say: ‘Are you sure he’s not faking it? Is he really in pain?’”
Creating a digital biosignature of pediatric pain
An innovative study at Stanford University aims to improve the pediatric pain landscape by using digital tools to create an in-the-moment, objective measure of the pain experience. Participants in the Targeted Real-time Assessment of Chronic Pain in Youth Study (TRAC-Pain) are between 14 and 24 years old and experience chronic pain in one or more muscles or joints—related to any number of causes or diagnoses.
As one of the study participants, Aiden wore a smartwatch, day and night, for 12 weeks to collect data on his heart rate, activity, and sleep. He also filled out a daily survey about his pain, stress, and sleep.
“We want to see a more complete picture of the pain experience,” says Laura Simons, PhD, a professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine (pediatric) at Stanford, and TRAC-Pain’s co-principal investigator. Simons has teamed up with Nima Aghaeepour, PhD, a prominent data scientist who helps turn the information from wearables into insights that matter for patients.
The study is the first of its kind at this scale in pediatric chronic pain, with over 150 teens and young adults enrolled nationwide as of early fall 2025. Researchers aim to have 500 participants by summer 2026.
“Past studies have used wearables to track activity levels and look at interventions, but not as a way of understanding the pain experience,” Simons explains. “TRAC-Pain is the first study to look at young people in real time, giving us a window into their everyday lives.”
Ultimately, Simons hopes the study’s creation of a “digital biosignature” of youth pain, using biomarkers such as heart rate and other physical indicators, could lead to a tool that predicts pain flares and generates a wellness alert.
This type of nudge would be valuable, Aiden and Katie agree—knowing a flare might be on the way, Aiden could initiate the breathing and distraction techniques he has learned at his pain psychology appointments and possibly avoid or reduce the impacts of the flare.
Researchers hope the study’s results will make pain-management tools more accessible.
“If we can demonstrate the effectiveness of these watches in improving medical decision-making, watches could be covered by insurance or provided by the medical system,” Simons explains.
The power of pediatric research
A better understanding of pediatric pain could help alleviate the isolation experienced by youth with pain.
“My friends don’t know what I’m going through,” Aiden shares. “They don’t know how to help me when I’m dealing with pain.”
Katie experiences isolation as a parent as well.
“I don’t have any parent friends with children who have this experience,” she says. “It’s been wonderful to participate in this study so we know we’re not alone.”
Aiden has participated in several other studies. One, called Empowered Relief for Youth, measured the efficacy of a pain-management course teaching self-regulation. The study led to the development of an educational program for caregivers, and Katie has joined the advisory committee to help design the program.
“From my perspective as a mom, jump in and join the research,” she says. “Without kids like Aiden willing to participate, researchers can’t learn how chronic pain affects the body and the person. Everything we’ve participated in has led us to something else that has been even more amazing as far as learning more about chronic pain.”
To learn more about TRAC-Pain, visit bpp.stanford.edu/trac-pain
JOINING RESEARCH: A GENTLE GUIDE FOR FAMILIES
Research studies help build the bigger picture of how pain is understood and treated. While a single study may not result in pain relief for your child, each one adds valuable knowledge that can shape better treatments for children in the future. Many families also find that taking part feels meaningful—knowing they are contributing to progress can bring comfort and hope.
“We find that people really feel good about being involved in the research, giving back, and doing something that feels empowering when they feel so disempowered by pain,” says Simons.
Before joining a study, ask researchers: Why does this study matter? What does my child’s participation involve? Is this the safest and least burdensome way to get the needed data? How will our privacy be protected? Will the results be shared with us and, if so, when?