Revisiting the Provision of Pain Neuroscience Education: An Adjunct Intervention for Patients but a Primary Focus of Clinician Education

2020/10/20 by Adriaan Louw, Kathleen A. Sluka, Jo Nijs +2
Medicine · #Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation #Pediatric Pain Management Techniques #Sports injuries and prevention

paper · doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9804

openalex publication_date 2020/10/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Synopsis Society is mired in a serious health care crisis regarding pain and opioid abuse. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) has gained support in the last 20 years as an intervention to help people manage chronic pain. In this Viewpoint, we argue that exercise and movement must be the primary intervention for chronic pain conditions, and that PNE or other adjunctive therapies should only be used if they can foster increased exercise and movement participation. Pain education should be the primary focus of a chronic pain management strategy for students and clinicians. It would help to advance knowledge and skills, and ultimately enhance care and outcomes for patients with chronic pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(2):57–59. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.9804

Citations

• The efficacy of pain neuroscience education on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review of the literature

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