Rehab and Performance Lab: A Medbridge Podcast

Rehab and Performance Lab Episode 7: Does Everyone Need Pain Neuroscience Education?

Sep 13, 2024

Adriaan Louw, a distinguished physical therapist and expert in pain neuroscience education, joins Phil Plisky to discuss the transformative power of education in pain management. They dive into who benefits most from this approach, highlighting patients with chronic pain and high fear. Louw shares effective communication strategies and the importance of building trust. He emphasizes using relatable metaphors to explain pain and tailoring education to individual needs. Their conversation reveals how addressing fears can enhance patient outcomes, particularly when combined with movement therapies.

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INSIGHT

PNE Turns Talk Into Therapy

Pain neuroscience education (PNE) converts everyday clinician talk into a therapeutic tool when targeted and informed.
Brain scans show PNE calms nervous systems and improves movement when applied appropriately.

ADVICE

Use PNE As Technique Or Communication

Use PNE either as a focused technique for primed patients or sprinkle PNE language across visits as part of communication.
Adjust intensity: full sessions for complex cases, subtle wording shifts for routine care.

ADVICE

Screen To Target PNE

Screen patients to decide who needs intensive PNE: nociplastic/central sensitization, chronic pain, high fear, high catastrophizing, and those ready to change.
Use validated questionnaires (Central Sensitization Inventory, FABQ, TSK, catastrophizing scales) to guide choice.

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Adriaan Louw, a renowned expert in pain neuroscience education, joins the Rehab and Performance Lab podcast to reveal which types of patients really benefit from this type of education. Together with host Phil Plisky, he discusses the latest research, highlights evidence-based treatment strategies that can create independence and foster hope in your patients, and champions a compassionate approach to patient care. Tune in to learn how addressing patients' fears and helping them to understand why they hurt can improve outcomes, especially when combined with movement-based therapies.

Learning Objectives

Interpret the evidence around pain neuroscience education
Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address how to identify patients who would benefit from pain neuroscience education
Solve patient case scenarios involving pain neuroscience education

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Welcome
(00:01:00) Introduction to guest
(00:02:45) The importance of pain neuroscience education
(00:09:45) Criteria for determining who needs pain neuroscience education
(00:13:33) Assessing patients for pain neuroscience education
(00:17:00) Effective communication techniques for pain neuroscience education
(00:22:36) Building trust and relationships
(00:30:40) Signs that neuroscience education is not appropriate
(00:32:40) Using language appropriately to enhance patient outcomes
(00:34:47) Tailoring education to the individual patient's needs and goals
(00:39:13) Three actionable takeaways

Rehab and Performance Lab is brought to you by MedBridge. If you’d like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your MedBridge account and navigate to the course where you’ll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on MedBridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.

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