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Pain Science Education and Therapeutic Exercise in Adults With Musculoskeletal Pain
Sponsor: University of Vigo
Summary
This randomized controlled pilot trial evaluated the effectiveness of adding pain neuroscience education (PNE) to a therapeutic exercise program in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental group receiving therapeutic exercise plus PNE or to a control group receiving therapeutic exercise alone. The intervention lasted 8 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of the intervention on pain intensity. Secondary objectives included evaluating its effects on kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance beliefs, and muscle strength, as well as assessing the feasibility of the study protocol to inform the design of a future larger-scale randomized controlled trial.
Official title: Effectiveness of Pain Science Education and Therapeutic Exercise in Adults With Musculoskeletal Pain. A Randomized Controlled Experimental Pilot Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
38
Start Date
2026-05-01
Completion Date
2026-07-03
Last Updated
2026-08-26
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) + Therapeutic Exercise
Participants in the experimental group received four Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) sessions over the 8-week intervention period, with one session every two weeks. The educational intervention aimed to facilitate the reconceptualization of pain through accessible explanations of the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in pain perception and modulation. Sessions were delivered online through educational videos and included examples and graphic materials. A brief questionnaire was administered after each session to verify attendance and understanding of the content.
Therapeutic Exercise
Participants attended supervised 50-minute therapeutic exercise sessions, usually 1 to 3 times per week, during the 8-week intervention period. The structured program was primarily focused on strength training and also included an aerobic exercise component. Exercise frequency, intensity, duration, and progression were individualized according to each participant's characteristics and abilities.
Locations (1)
Studio Pilates Fisioterapia
Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain