Pain Neuroscience Education and Physical Exercise Program in Chronic Back Pain

Pain Neuroscience Education and Physical Exercise Program in Patients With Chronic Back Pain. Intervention From Primary Care Physiotherapy Units

This study evaluates the effects of a pain neuroscience education (PNE) and physical exercise (PE) program in patients with chronic back pain. Half of participants receive PNE and PE program supervised by a physiotherapist and the other half receive usual physiotherapy care supported by physiotherapy protocols in primary care.

Justification: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) affects more than 20% of the population, its prevalence is increasing, generating suffering and high health expenditure. The current knowledge of neurophysiology of pain shows that the painful experience in CMP is not necessarily associated with peripheral tissue damage and is due more to an alteration of central mechanisms of pain processing and to the dysfunction of endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms. Physical exercise (PE) has been shown to be effective in CMP. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) improves the levels of pain catastrophism, Kinesiophobia, quality of life, disability and also modifies maladaptive cognitions that favour a painful response. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a PNE and PE in patients with chronic back pain (CBP). Changes in pain intensity, pain thresholds, Catastrophism, kinesiophobia, disability, central sensitization and quality of are measured. Material and methods: Multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) with 170 patients. Intervention group receive 6 sessions of PNE and a 6 weeks PE program (18 sessions) aimed at improving functional capacity, neurogenesis and cerebral plasticity. Control group receive usual physiotherapy treatment (supported by the current protocols in Primary Care in the Health System of Castilla y León). The outcome variables are measured by Visual Analog Scale (EVA), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), Kinesiophobia Tampa Scale (TKS-11), Central Sensitization Questionnaire (CSC), Pain Catastrophism Questionnaire (CCD), disability (Roland-Morris), Quality of life (SF-36) and satisfaction (CSQ-8). An initial assessment, post-intervention (week 10), at six months and at year is performed. Patients Evaluator and Outcomes Assessor are masked. Applicability of results: The proposed intervention is simple and reproducible. It can be performed in the Primary Care Physiotherapy Units. It requires few resources, and it can produce changes in pain intensity, functionality and quality of life of patients with CBP

Group physical exercise program (18 sessions; 3 sessions/week) leaded by a physiotherapist. It includes exercises to improve strength, coordination, balance and aerobic capacity. Work with double tasks, recreational activities to overcome kinesiophobia and activities to do at home are used in the program.

Treatment supported by the protocol of primary care of physiotherapy in the health service of Castilla y León that was in force at the time of the intervention. Patients receive 15 sessions of analgesic electrotherapy, thermotherapy and standardized physical exercise

Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) V2. Spanish version. The SF-36 is a 36-item scale constructed to survey health status and quality of life. It yields an 8-scale profile of functional health and well-being scores as well as psychometrically-based physical and mental health summary. Each scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better overall quality of life.

Visual analog scale (VAS) scale. The VAS is a 100 mm long horizontal line ranging from '0: no pain at all' on one end to '100: worst pain imaginable' on the other end. Participants mark a point along the line that best represents the pain they are experiencing at that moment. A higher score indicates a higher level of pain.

Pressure pain threshold (PPT). A digital pressure algometer is used at four standardized points to measure the pressure pain thresholds. Higher values represent a better tolerance to pressure pain.

Pain catastrophizing scale (PCS). Spanish version. PCS is a short 13-item measure which evaluates the pain-related catastrophizing behaviours and cognitions of individuals. Score range from 0 - 52. A higher score indicates a higher level of catastrophism.

Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11). Spanish version. TSK-11 is a self-report measure that contains 11 questions designed to assess a client's fear of movement and re-injury. Score range from 11 - 44. A higher score indicates a higher level of Kinesiophobia.

Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Spanish version. It is a self-administered disability questionnaire consisting of 24 questions that are specifically related to physical functions that may be affected by back pain. Score range from 0 - 24. A higher score indicates a higher level of Disability.

Central sensitization Inventory (CSI). Spanish version. Self-report instrument to detect the presence of central sensitization. It is a 25-item questionnaire that records the frequency of each symptom on a Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always), resulting in a possible total score of 100. Higher scores are associated with higher levels of central sensitization.

Record of consumption by types of drugs. Consumption is evaluated through a survey. The results are expressed in weekly doses per drug type.

Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8). Spanish version. It is is a self-report instrument used to assess satisfaction with health services and it is used to assess participant satisfaction with the treatment. Scores range from 8 - 32. Higher scores are associated with higher satisfaction.

modification of the body mass index (BMI). Weight in Kg. and Height ill be combined to report BMI in kg/m^2.

Inclusion Criteria: Nonspecific back pain of at least 6 months. Accept to participate in the study and sign the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Oncological pain. Spine fracture or surgical intervention in last year. Neurological cognitive alteration that prevents understanding the contents of PNE program (In case of doubt, assesment with Minimental test) Motor control alteration that prevents the execution of the planned PE program (Minimum requirement: execution in normal time of the Timed Up and Go test) Pregnancy. Bladder or bowel incontinence. Saddle anesthesia. Patients presenting other clinical conditions that may aggravate chronic spinal pain (chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome). Patients with associated pathologies that make it impossible to perform physical exercise program. Patients under treatment with alternative therapies.

Galan-Martin MA, Montero-Cuadrado F, Lluch-Girbes E, Coca-Lopez MC, Mayo-Iscar A, Cuesta-Vargas A. Pain neuroscience education and physical exercise for patients with chronic spinal pain in primary healthcare: a randomised trial protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019 Nov 3;20(1):505. doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2889-1.