Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) to Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress and Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT05086159

Last Updated: 2021-10-27

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

47 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-07-01

Study Completion Date

2021-08-01

Brief Summary

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This trial compared traditional pain and stress education plus physical therapy to pain neuroscience education plus physical therapy in individuals with post-traumatic stress and chronic low back pain.

Detailed Description

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Veterans and Service Members with low back pain (LBP) will be recruited for this research. Once Veterans consent to participate in this research, participants will undergo baseline testing. Next, participants will randomly be assigned to one of two types of education: pain neuroscience education or traditional biomedical education. Each Veteran will receive 30 minutes of interactive education once a week for 4 weeks, depending on their group assignment. Following each education session, Veterans will participate in an exercise class that will last approximately 30 minutes. After the 4 week intervention, Veterans will complete the same questionnaires and measures as at the beginning of the program. Veterans will also complete subjective questionnaires at 8 weeks. Finally, healthcare utilization will be measured for 12 months following the research intervention.

Conditions

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Chronic Low Back Pain Post-traumatic Stress

Keywords

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chronic low back pain post-traumatic stress physical therapy pain neuroscience education

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Traditional Education

Traditional biomedical education for back pain and standard stress education. Education was developed from "Back School", National PTSD Center, and PTSD Coach.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The exercise protocol for each group will be identical and modeled after the "Back to Fitness" program. This program will consist of a 5-10-minute cardiovascular warm-up of walking in place or riding an exercise bike. Next is a 15-minute circuit consisting of 10 different general exercises for 1-minute each. Finally, a 5-minute cool down will consist of light stretching and trunk range of motion exercises. Each exercise will be tailored as easy, medium, or hard depending on the individual patient's tolerance. This program has been shown to be equally as effective as motor control exercises for long-term outcomes in patients with non-specific LBP.

Traditional Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.

Session 1 will include a basic overview of the anatomy of the spine.

Session 2 will discuss an overview of stress symptoms to include hypervigilance, avoidance, and re-experiencing.

Session 3 will cover common recommendations delivered in stress education: the do's and don'ts of stress management.

Session 4: review and mindfulness.

Pain Neuroscience Education

Pain neuroscience education (PNE) was developed for this research comparing pain and stress symptoms to a radar that can become hypervigilant to threat.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Pain Neuroscience Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.

Session 1: the nervous system is like an alarm to protect.

Session 2: common ways the nervous system becomes sensitive.

Session 3: importance of gradual conditioning and neuroplasticity.

Session 4: common ways to decrease nervous system sensitivity.

Exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The exercise protocol for each group will be identical and modeled after the "Back to Fitness" program. This program will consist of a 5-10-minute cardiovascular warm-up of walking in place or riding an exercise bike. Next is a 15-minute circuit consisting of 10 different general exercises for 1-minute each. Finally, a 5-minute cool down will consist of light stretching and trunk range of motion exercises. Each exercise will be tailored as easy, medium, or hard depending on the individual patient's tolerance. This program has been shown to be equally as effective as motor control exercises for long-term outcomes in patients with non-specific LBP.

Interventions

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Pain Neuroscience Education

Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.

Session 1: the nervous system is like an alarm to protect.

Session 2: common ways the nervous system becomes sensitive.

Session 3: importance of gradual conditioning and neuroplasticity.

Session 4: common ways to decrease nervous system sensitivity.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exercise

The exercise protocol for each group will be identical and modeled after the "Back to Fitness" program. This program will consist of a 5-10-minute cardiovascular warm-up of walking in place or riding an exercise bike. Next is a 15-minute circuit consisting of 10 different general exercises for 1-minute each. Finally, a 5-minute cool down will consist of light stretching and trunk range of motion exercises. Each exercise will be tailored as easy, medium, or hard depending on the individual patient's tolerance. This program has been shown to be equally as effective as motor control exercises for long-term outcomes in patients with non-specific LBP.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Traditional Education

Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.

Session 1 will include a basic overview of the anatomy of the spine.

Session 2 will discuss an overview of stress symptoms to include hypervigilance, avoidance, and re-experiencing.

Session 3 will cover common recommendations delivered in stress education: the do's and don'ts of stress management.

Session 4: review and mindfulness.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Pain located between the 12th rib and buttocks that in the opinion of the screening examiner is originating from the lumbar region
* Current episode of back pain duration of 3 months or longer
* Active duty military or Veteran
* Read and speak English well enough to provide informed consent and follow study instructions

Exclusion Criteria

* History of prior surgery to the lumbosacral spine within the previous 12 months
* Presence of neurogenic LBP defined by a positive contralateral straight leg raise (reproduction of symptoms below 45 degrees) or reflex, sensation, or strength deficits in a pattern consistent with nerve root compression
* Medical "red flags" of a potentially serious condition including cauda equina syndrome, major or rapidly progressing neurological deficit, fracture, cancer, infection, or systemic disease
* Discharged from physical therapy within the past 3 months for lower back pain
* Current diagnosis of psychotic conditions or medications (bi-polar, schizophrenia, personality disorder).
* Substance abuse or psychosis within 6 months of research.
* Unable to discontinue other active therapies until completion of clinical trial follow-up (8 weeks).
* Suicidal ideation
* Current pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Keller Army Community Hospital

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Timothy Benedict

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Lexington VA Medical Center

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Other Identifiers

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GAM-16-024-HE

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id