Pain Neuroscience Education for Acute and Sub-Acute Low Back Pain
Pain Neuroscience Education for Acute and Sub-Acute Low Back Pain
To determine if Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) would result in positive clinical changes
 in patients presenting with acute or sub-acute low back pain (LBP).
Background: Pain neuroscience education (PNE) has shown efficacy in treating chronic pain.
 Clinicians may believe PNE is not suitable for acute and sub-acute pain. Subgroupings of low
 back pain (LBP) imply some patients with LBP may respond favorably to PNE.

 Objective: To determine if PNE would result in positive clinical changes in patients
 presenting with acute or sub-acute LBP.

 Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with LBP < 3 months were enrolled in the study. Patients
 completed a demographics questionnaire, leg and LBP rating (Numeric Pain Rating Scale -
 NPRS), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), fear-avoidance (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs
 Questionnaire), pain catastrophization (Pain Catastrophization Scale), central sensitization
 (Central Sensitization Inventory), pain knowledge (Revised Neurophysiology of Pain
 Questionnaire), risk assessment (Keele STarT Back Screening Tool), active trunk flexion and
 straight leg raise (SLR). Patients received a 15-minute verbal, one-on-one PNE session,
 followed by repeat measurement of LBP and leg pain (NPRS), trunk flexion and SLR.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  a complaint of LBP with or without leg pain less than 3 months, and

 -  a willingness to participate

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  a) were under age 18 (minor);

 -  b) had undergone lumbar surgery;

 -  c) could not read or understand the English language;

 -  d) presented with any cognitive deficits rendering them unsuitable for PNE (i.e.,
 stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.),

 -  e) declined to participate or

 -  f) presented with a medical etiology (red flag) associated with their LBP.