Pain Neuroscience Education as the Foundation of Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment

Efficacy of a pain neuroscience educational program in improving executive function and pain intensity in fibromyalgia patients (Fibrobrain project): Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal condition typically characterized by chronic pain, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, and cognitive problems. The present study aims to examine the efficacy of a pain neuroscience education program (PNE) in improving executive functions and pain intensity in patients with FM and compare them with those of standard treatment protocols.

METHODS

This blinded, controlled clinical trial will compare changes in executive function and pain intensity between two groups. The first group will receive standard treatment supplemented with PNE, consisting of ten sessions spread over five weeks, with each session lasting 40-45 min. The main objective of this method is to remodel cognitive and emotional reactions to pain, challenging the idea that pain is directly related to injury and highlighting the influence of emotions, sleep, and physical activity on pain perception. The second group will receive only standard pharmacological treatment. The study sample will include 62 adults diagnosed with FM, according to initial sample size estimates based on previous evidence. A baseline assessment of baseline characteristics will be performed, after which patients will be randomly assigned to the PNE group or the control group. The results of the intervention will be evaluated and statistically compared after 5 weeks. This protocol complies with all relevant ethical guidelines. It has been approved by two institutional committees (Reference: NR2006; Conbioethics:21-CEI-004-20,170,829).

CONCLUSION

It is anticipated that this intervention will be a cost-effective and superior alternative to standard treatments.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05084300.

Efficacy of preoperative pain neuroscience education in physical therapy on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing arthroplasty: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative pain neuroscience education (PNE) on pain intensity, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, and disability in individuals undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

A search was conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, Epistemonikos, Scopus, and Web of Science from their inception to March 2023. Two investigators independently assessed the risk of bias with Risk of Bias 2 (ROB2) and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) of the studies, as well as the certainty of the evidence with Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) for pain intensity, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia and disability at one month, three months and six months of follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 1716 papers were found and two studies on knee arthroplasty were included (n = 147). The intergroup effect sizes for pain intensity were 0.29, 0.07, and 0.25 at one-, three-, and six-months post-surgery, whereas the effect sizes for disability were 0.4, 0.46, and 0.21 (GRADE analysis, moderate certainty, respectively). Catastrophizing showed intergroup effect sizes of 0.78, 1.08, and 0.25, and kinesiophobia of 1.56, 0.92, and 0.33 at follow-up (GRADE analysis, low-moderate certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative PNE in individuals undergoing knee arthroplasty has low to moderate certainty for improving pain intensity, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and disability with low to high effect sizes and discrepancy between studies. More research on the effect of a preoperative PNE intervention in people undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty is required.

How do the target concepts of pain science education combined with exercise contribute to the effect on pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic spinal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis with moderator analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the moderator effect of the target concepts covered in the Pain science education (PSE) sessions, including both the total amount of target concepts and each individual target concept, on changes in pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic spinal pain (CSP). A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and CENTRAL was conducted from inception to March 10, 2024. A random effects model was used for meta-regression analysis. A total of 11 studies were included. The total amount of target concepts of PSE showed a significant correlation with changes in pain intensity (k=11; F=4.45; p=0.04; R2=26.07 %). In terms of each target content, only a significant effect on pain intensity was obtained for 'transfer knowledge about pain to an adaptive behavioural change' (z=-2.35, P =0.019, 95 %CI -3.42 to -0.31) and 'reconceptualization of pain' (z=-2.43, P =0.015, 95 %CI -3.70 to -0.39). No significant effect on disability was found. These results may be useful for optimising the effectiveness of PSE programmes.

The optimal dose of pain neuroscience education added to an exercise programme for patients with chronic spinal pain: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Pain neuroscience education (PNE) has shown promising results in the management of patients with chronic spinal pain (CSP). However, no previous review has determined the optimal dose of PNE added to an exercise programme to achieve clinically relevant improvements. The aim was to determine the dose-response association between PNE added to an exercise programme and improvements in pain intensity and disability in patients with CSP. A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted from inception to April 19, 2023. The exposure variable (dosage) was the total minutes of PNE. Outcome measures included pain intensity, disability, quality of life, pressure pain thresholds, and central sensitization inventory. Data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and certainty of evidence were performed by 2 independent reviewers. The dose-response relationship was assessed using a restricted cubic spline model. Twenty-six randomised controlled trials with 1852 patients were included. Meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant effect in favour of PNE on pain intensity and disability. In addition, a dose of 200 and 150 minutes of PNE added to an exercise programme was estimated to exceed the minimum clinically important difference described in the literature for pain intensity (-2.61 points, 95% CI = -3.12 to -2.10) and disability (-6.84 points, 95% CI = -7.98 to -5.70), respectively. The pooled effect of the isolated exercise was small. These findings may be useful in optimising the most appropriate PNE dose to achieve clinically relevant improvements in patients with CSP.

Pain neuroscience education for patients with chronic pain: A scoping review from teaching-learning strategies, educational level, and cultural perspective

OBJECTIVE

(1) To identify the characteristics of PNE programs in terms of teaching-learning strategies, session modality, content delivery format, number of sessions, total minutes and instructional support material used in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, (2) to describe PNE adaptations for patients with different educational levels or cultural backgrounds, and (3) to describe the influence of the patient's educational level or cultural background on the effects of PNE.

METHODS

The PRISMA guideline for scoping reviews was followed. Nine databases were systematically searched up to July 8, 2023. Articles that examined clinical or psychosocial variables in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain who received PNE were included.

RESULTS

Seventy-one articles were included. Studies found benefits of PNE through passive/active teaching-learning strategies with group/individual sessions. However, PNE programs presented great heterogeneity and adaptations to PNE were poorly reported. Most studies did not consider educational level and culture in the effects of PNE.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the large number of studies on PNE and increased interest in this intervention, the educational level and culture are poorly reported in the studies.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

It is recommended to use passive and/or active teaching-learning strategies provided in individual and/or group formats considering the patient's educational level and culture.

Therapeutic management of the painful nerve: a narrative review of common rehabilitation interventions

There are many ways that rehabilitation therapists, including occupational and physical therapists, treat nerve-related pain. Commonly used interventions include neurodynamic treatment, pain neuroscience education, desensitization, exercise, physical agent modalities, mirror box therapy, and Kinesio taping. Despite common practice and anecdotal support, it can be challenging to determine the appropriate intervention for each patient. In this article, each of these treatment approaches is discussed, including indicated pain phenotypes and diagnoses, timing, efficacy, mechanism, contraindications, and limitations.

Flipping the hidden curriculum to transform pain education and culture

Though long-sought, transformation of pain management practice and culture has yet to be realized. We propose both a likely cause-entrenchment in a biomedical model of care that is observed and then replicated by trainees-and a solution: deliberately leveraging the hidden curriculum to instead implement a sociopsychobiological (SPB) model of care. We make use of Implicit Bias Recognition and Management, a tool that helps teams to first recognize and "surface" whatever is implicit and to subsequently intervene to change whatever is found to be lacking. We describe how a practice might use iterations of recognition and intervention to move from a biomedical to a SPB model by providing examples from the Chronic Pain Wellness Center in the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System. As pain management practitioners and educators collectively leverage the hidden curriculum to provide care in the SPB model, we will not only positively transform our individual practices but also pain management as a whole.

Remotely Delivered Psychologically Informed Mindful Movement Physical Therapy for Pain Care: A Framework for Operationalization

Background

While there is recognition by the greater medical community and physical therapists to address the biopsychosocial needs of people with chronic, persistent pain, there are challenges in implementation and delivery including wide variability in interventions, lack of clear rationale, and absence of clinical models that are feasible and acceptable on a large scale. Important components for psychologically informed physical therapy (PiPT) for pain care include behavioral approaches (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), mindfulness, pain neuroscience education, motivational interviewing (MI), and interoceptive skills-building. The Empower Veterans Program (EVP) Mindful Movement framework blends these components and emphasizes a mindfulness and self-compassion approach with MI and body-based experiential learning. This program was offered in-person at the Atlanta and Maryland VA Health Care Centers with published positive Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) pre-COVID 19 crisis and shifted to entirely remote delivery in March 2020.

Objective

This paper offers an evidence-based and theory driven framework to operationalize a remotely delivered group-based psychologically informed mindful movement physical therapy intervention as part of an interdisciplinary pain care program.

Methods

Since 2021 PRO and demographics are collected using a survey administered through Qualtrics over a 12-month period at baseline, immediately post TelePain EVP, at 6 months, and at 12 months, with findings forthcoming.

Discussion/Results

Tele-pain EVP offers 6-9 groups a week with 7-9 veterans from Atlanta based team and 3-4 groups a week with 5-9 veterans from Maryland based team. Adaptations for remote delivery optimized mindfulness and active learning strategies including interoceptive skills-building and use of MI to support self-efficacy to trust, restore a sense of safety in the body, and explore adaptations for safe movement.

Conclusion

TelePain-EVP Mindful Movement provides a framework for other programs to translate for their populations and systems to further develop best practices in PiPT for pain care and integration into interdisciplinary care.

Distinctive alterations in the functional anatomy of the cerebral cortex in pain-sensitized osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia patients

Background

Pain-sensitized osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia patients characteristically show nociceptive system augmented responsiveness as a common feature. However, sensitization can be originally related to the peripheral injury in osteoarthritis patients, whereas pain and bodily discomfort spontaneously occur in fibromyalgia with no apparent origin. We investigated the distinct functional repercussion of pain sensitization in the cerebral cortex in both conditions.

Methods

Thirty-one pain-sensitized knee osteoarthritis patients and 38 fibromyalgia patients were compared with matched control groups. And new samples of 34 sensitized knee osteoarthritis and 63 fibromyalgia patients were used to directly compare each condition. A combined measure of local functional connectivity was estimated to map functional alterations in the cerebral cortex at rest.

Results

In osteoarthritis, weaker local connectivity was identified in the insula, which is a cortical area processing important aspects of the brain response to painful stimulation. In contrast, fibromyalgia patients showed weaker connectivity in the sensorimotor cortex extensively affecting the cortical representation of the body.

Conclusions

In osteoarthritis, weaker insular cortex connectivity is compatible with reduced neural activity during metabolic recovery after repeated activation. In the fibromyalgia neurophysiological context, weaker connectivity may better express both reduced neural activity and increased excitability, particularly affecting the sensorimotor cortex in patients with spontaneous body pain. Such a combination is compatible with a central gain enhancement mechanism, where low sensory tolerance results from the over-amplification of central sensory reception to compensate a presumably weak sensory input. We propose that deficient proprioception could be a factor contributing to weak sensory input.

Pilot study on the effects of a culturally-sensitive and standard pain neuroscience education for Hausa-speaking patients with chronic neck pain

PURPOSE

To pilot feasibility and assess preliminary effectiveness of standard and culture-sensitive Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) among Hausa-speaking patients with Chronic Neck Pain (CNP).

METHODS

Adverts (online & clinic-based) were used to recruit Hausa-speaking patients with nonspecific CNP in Kano, Nigeria. Selected participants were randomized to culture-sensitive PNE (CSPNE), standard PNE (PNE), or control groups. Each group received bi-weekly sessions of exercise therapy for 6 weeks. Two sessions of PNE plus a home-based session were administered before exercise therapy in the PNE groups. Primary (pain-intensity and disability) and secondary (pain-knowledge, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life) outcomes were measured. The study was pre-registered (PACTR201902788269426).

RESULTS

Fifty-three (out of 64) participants met the inclusion criteria. The majority of them were recruited through radio adverts (83%). Interventions were successfully administered and data collection was completed for the participants. About 15% and 17% drop-out rate was recorded before intervention (post-randomization) and during follow-up, respectively. Main results indicated that significant within-group improvements in disability and pain knowledge scores were found in favor of the PNE groups.

CONCLUSION

Culture-sensitive and standard PNE plus exercise therapy are feasible for Hausa patients with CNP, and current findings indicate support for reducing disability and increasing pain knowledge among them.Implications for rehabilitationBoth standard PNE and culture-sensitive PNE are feasible for administration as interventions for Hausa-speaking patients with CNP.Radio adverts may be necessary for patients recruitment in addition to specialists' referrals.Culturally sensitive PNE materials may be more desirable as an intervention option due to the low literacy level among the Hausa population.

Impact of Scapular Repositioning Using a Scapular Belt for Axioscapular Muscle Imbalance in Patients With a Non-specific Neck Pain: A Case Report

A common cervical spine condition that frequently interferes with a patient's daily activities is chronic neck pain. The axioscapular muscle imbalance that results from increased middle trapezius activity in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain affects cervical spine stability and contributes to pain. A 67-year-old male, who was a retired office secretary, experienced neck pain for two years. In the last four months, his discomfort worsened, impairing his ability to function and degrading his quality of life. For the axioscapular muscle imbalance, scapular repositioning with a scapular belt was used to alleviate muscular imbalances and help with posture correction. The results were calculated using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), which revealed significant changes in pain intensity from 9 to 4, and disability scores shifted from 48% to 20% between the pre and post-treatment sessions, respectively. In order to decrease neck pain, this case report investigates the impact of scapular realignment using a scapular belt in the treatment of non-specific chronic neck discomfort.

Pain neuroscience education combined with usual treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of pain neuroscience education (PNE) in addition to usual treatment in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

METHODS

Forty patients were randomized into 2 groups. The experimental group underwent PNE sessions over 6 weeks in addition to pharmacological treatment, and the control group was given only pharmacological treatment. The primary outcome measure was functional status and the secondary outcome measures were widespread pain pressure threshold and kinesiophobia level. All assessments were conducted before the intervention and at the end of the 6th and 12th weeks by the same blinded researcher.

RESULTS

The intervention group had significantly greater improvement than the control group in terms of the mean total scores in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (P = .001) and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (P = .001) with large effect sizes. The intervention group also had significantly greater improvement in the pain pressure threshold values of the cervical (P = .040), thoracic (P = .001), lumbar (P < .001), elbow (P = .005) and calf (P = .006) regions with moderate-to-large effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the addition of 6-week PNE sessions to pharmacological treatment was successful in improving functional status, widespread pain pressure threshold, and level of kinesiophobia in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome during a 12-week follow-up period.