Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran
2 Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran
3 Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman
Abstract
Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common chronic conditions. Despite the existence of various interventions such as exercise therapy, the effect size of conservative treatment approaches for chronic LBP has been small to moderate. Pain neuroscience education is a new therapeutic intervention based on cognitive behavioral techniques that effectively treat LBP. The combination of exercise therapy and pain neuroscience education appears to be more effective in treating chronic non-specific LBP.
Aim: The purpose of this review is to investigating the effect of combining pain neuroscience education with exercise programs on pain, functional disability, and psychological factors in patients with chronic LBP.
Methods: In the current narrative review, articles indexed in the reliable databases ISI, Irandoc, Scopus and Google Scholar between 2010 and 2024 were searched using the combination of keywords (("non-specific chronic low back pain" OR "chronic low back pain")) AND (("pain neuroscience education" OR "pain biology education") AND (("training" OR "exercise therapy" OR "therapeutic exercise" OR "exercise")) according to the PICOS protocol and the PRISMA checklist. Inclusion criteria included studies that examined the combination of pain neuroscience education with exercise programs on pain, disability, and psychological factors in patients with chronic LBP. The PEDro scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies.
Results: 11 articles were identified and included in the study. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in pain, disability, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and central pain sensitivity. Although changes in fear-avoidance beliefs, depression, and self-efficacy were insignificant, the intervention group improved significantly.
Conclusion: Adding the approach of pain neuroscience education to exercise programs significantly improves pain, disability, and some psychological factors in patients with chronic LBP.
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