Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this single-subject experimental study was to describe the patient’s outcome following pain neuroscience education in combination with therapeutic exercise for Brazilian women with central sensitisation and a low level of education.
Methods: Eight Brazilian women with central sensitisation and a low level of education were screened from a total of 57 patients with musculoskeletal disorders in an outpatient physiotherapy department. Twelve sessions were performed, once a week, including group pain education and supervised exercises. The outcome measures of pain intensity, functionality, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, quality of life, knowledge of pain physiology and global improvement rating were collected pre- and post-intervention.
Results: There was an improvement in pain (before median = 8.5, after median = 5.0; Z = −2.032, p = .042) and functionality (before median = 2.5, after median = 5.6; Z = −2.366, p = .018) at post-intervention evaluation measured by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A meaningful improvement was observed in global perceived effect. There were no statistically significant differences for other outcomes.
Conclusion: Following a combination of pain neuroscience education with therapeutic exercise, Brazilian women with central sensitisation and a low level of education showed pain relief and improved function. Nonetheless, psychosocial factors, knowledge of pain and quality of life did not improve with the intervention.
Methods: Eight Brazilian women with central sensitisation and a low level of education were screened from a total of 57 patients with musculoskeletal disorders in an outpatient physiotherapy department. Twelve sessions were performed, once a week, including group pain education and supervised exercises. The outcome measures of pain intensity, functionality, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, quality of life, knowledge of pain physiology and global improvement rating were collected pre- and post-intervention.
Results: There was an improvement in pain (before median = 8.5, after median = 5.0; Z = −2.032, p = .042) and functionality (before median = 2.5, after median = 5.6; Z = −2.366, p = .018) at post-intervention evaluation measured by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A meaningful improvement was observed in global perceived effect. There were no statistically significant differences for other outcomes.
Conclusion: Following a combination of pain neuroscience education with therapeutic exercise, Brazilian women with central sensitisation and a low level of education showed pain relief and improved function. Nonetheless, psychosocial factors, knowledge of pain and quality of life did not improve with the intervention.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 224-232 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | European Journal of Physiotherapy |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Musculoskeletal pain
- central sensitisation
- pain management
- neurophysiology
- chronic pain