Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

<h4>Objective</h4>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent health condition worldwide. Several therapeutic interventions aim to improve CLBP. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) helps patients better understand their pain from biological and physiological perspectives, which clinicians...

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Main Authors: Ehsan Alvani, Bahram Sheikhi, Amir Letafatkar, Giacomo Rossettini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309679
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author Ehsan Alvani
Bahram Sheikhi
Amir Letafatkar
Giacomo Rossettini
author_facet Ehsan Alvani
Bahram Sheikhi
Amir Letafatkar
Giacomo Rossettini
author_sort Ehsan Alvani
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objective</h4>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent health condition worldwide. Several therapeutic interventions aim to improve CLBP. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) helps patients better understand their pain from biological and physiological perspectives, which clinicians use to reduce pain and disability in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Neuromuscular exercises (NMS) are also treatments adopted in CLBP. This study will investigate whether PNE combined with an NMS program improves pain, functional and psychological outcomes more than NMS alone in patients with CLBP.<h4>Methods</h4>In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 60 patients (male and female; age range, 30-60 years) diagnosed with CLBP will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (1) PNE plus NMS (n = 30; 24 sessions of PNE plus NMS in a total of 8 weeks, 3 each week), and (2) NMS alone (n = 30; 24 sessions of NMS sessions in a total of 8 weeks, 3 each week). Outcome assessors will be blinded to the group allocation. The primary outcome will be pain. Secondary outcomes will be disability, fear-avoidance beliefs about work and physical activity, self-efficacy, exercise anxiety, and kinesiophobia. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks of intervention, and 6 months post-intervention.<h4>Discussion</h4>The findings of this RCT will help shed light on new treatment strategies to address the biopsychosocial dimensions of CLBP. The study protocol will be conducted in a clinical setting, offering the opportunity for future implementation in healthcare systems. Moreover, it will help clarify whether a combined treatment (PNE with NMS) is more effective than NMS alone for improving pain, functional and psychological outcomes in CLBP.<h4>Trial registration</h4>Study registration: The study was prospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials-IRCT20190427043384N2 (https://www.irct.ir/trial/69146). Registered on March 17, 2023.
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spelling doaj-art-caba496309ca4202b4b7fd8d5088e7652025-08-20T02:01:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011911e030967910.1371/journal.pone.0309679Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.Ehsan AlvaniBahram SheikhiAmir LetafatkarGiacomo Rossettini<h4>Objective</h4>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent health condition worldwide. Several therapeutic interventions aim to improve CLBP. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) helps patients better understand their pain from biological and physiological perspectives, which clinicians use to reduce pain and disability in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Neuromuscular exercises (NMS) are also treatments adopted in CLBP. This study will investigate whether PNE combined with an NMS program improves pain, functional and psychological outcomes more than NMS alone in patients with CLBP.<h4>Methods</h4>In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 60 patients (male and female; age range, 30-60 years) diagnosed with CLBP will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (1) PNE plus NMS (n = 30; 24 sessions of PNE plus NMS in a total of 8 weeks, 3 each week), and (2) NMS alone (n = 30; 24 sessions of NMS sessions in a total of 8 weeks, 3 each week). Outcome assessors will be blinded to the group allocation. The primary outcome will be pain. Secondary outcomes will be disability, fear-avoidance beliefs about work and physical activity, self-efficacy, exercise anxiety, and kinesiophobia. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks of intervention, and 6 months post-intervention.<h4>Discussion</h4>The findings of this RCT will help shed light on new treatment strategies to address the biopsychosocial dimensions of CLBP. The study protocol will be conducted in a clinical setting, offering the opportunity for future implementation in healthcare systems. Moreover, it will help clarify whether a combined treatment (PNE with NMS) is more effective than NMS alone for improving pain, functional and psychological outcomes in CLBP.<h4>Trial registration</h4>Study registration: The study was prospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials-IRCT20190427043384N2 (https://www.irct.ir/trial/69146). Registered on March 17, 2023.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309679
spellingShingle Ehsan Alvani
Bahram Sheikhi
Amir Letafatkar
Giacomo Rossettini
Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
PLoS ONE
title Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
title_full Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
title_fullStr Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
title_full_unstemmed Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
title_short Effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain, functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A study protocol for a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
title_sort effects of pain neuroscience education combined with neuromuscular exercises on pain functional disability and psychological factors in chronic low back pain a study protocol for a single blind randomized controlled trial
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309679
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