This piece was first published here.

Pain Ther. 2022 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s40122-022-00371-3. Available ahead of print.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: Self-management education is the foundation of any treatment for people suffering from chronic muscle and joint pain. Because of the biopsychosocial nature of chronic musculoskeletal pain an approach to education built on the biopsychosocial concept is the most appropriate model of education to treat those suffering from coronavirus disease 2019. (COVID-19). The purpose for this investigation was to examine the effects the effects of learning about pain (PNE) and the teaching of biomechanics and pain, through face-to-face and online sessions on the fear of pain and moving, in those suffering from persistent neck pain that is nonspecific during COVID-19.

Methods: In this multicenter, assessor-blinded randomized controlled study the study included 80 participants (both gender-neutral and male) suffering from chronic, nonspecific neck pain (based on the inclusion criteria of the study) took part in education sessions (face-to-face as well as online) from September 1st to the close the month of October in 2021. The participants were divided between two different groups (through the random selection of numbers from one to 80, which were hidden in the form of a box) in some that received PNE (treatment group) while the other receiving pain biomechanics training (control class). Fear of movement and pain during and after the treatment were assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale as well as the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, respectively. A 2 2-variance analysis (treatment group and time) using a mixed-model model was used to analyze statistically the results.

Results: No significant change in the level of pain (P equals 0.23) was seen in the PNE and non-PNE groupings (P 0.24; P = 0.24 and Cohen’s D = 0.17 95 percent confidence intervals [CIs] 0.21 up to 0.35) and variations in fear of moving variables were found as significant (P equals 0.04 (Cohen’s d = 0.34 (95 percent 95% CI 0.11-0.51) and for PNE. Changes within the group were only observed within the PNE group in the fear of movement variables (P > 0.04; 14.28 %|).

Conclusion: In our research the population PNE didn’t affect the pain index. This leads to the observation that PNE is not recommended as the sole treatment however, it could be used in conjunction with other passive or active therapies to improve the outcomes for patients suffering from nonspecific persistent neck pain. Furthermore, online treatments could assist clinicians in increasing their communication and communication with their patients in COVID-19 lockdown.

PMID:35312949 | DOI:10.1007/s40122-022-00371-3