As research continues to show the benefits of integrating the biopsychosocial model of pain approach to treatment, psychology informed care has an increasingly important role in physiotherapy today. Although this model is considered the gold standard when it comes to the evaluation and treatment of chronic pain, not all physiotherapists are equipped with the necessary skills to execute it. Even though pain is comprised of both sensory and emotional responses, the cognitive and affective responses are still not thoroughly covered in most physical therapy curriculums. Do you feel confident following the clinical practice guidelines that recommend using a behavioral approach to managing chronic pain?(1)
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Ten Ways to Apply a Psychological/Behavioral Approach in Clinical Practice (with minimal effort and maximum patient benefit)
1. Pain Education
Helping patients to understand the many potential factors underlying their pain, including how the brain processes pain and nociception, can reduce maladaptive strategies and poor coping mechanisms. (2,3) Pain education is an expanding area of research and many practitioners are not up to date on the neuroscience and neurobiology required to treat persistent pain.
2. Sleep Hygiene
Chronic pain is made worse by low-quality sleep, which places proper sleep hygiene at the top of the priority list. (4,5) Educating patients on the importance of quality sleep and how to achieve it (turning off electronics before bed; keeping the bedroom cool, comfortable, and dark; and using the bed only for intimacy and sleep) can help patients to achieve the rest they need.
Chronic pain is made worse by low-quality sleep, which places proper sleep hygiene at the top of the priority list Share on X3. Relaxation
Many different relaxation techniques are available, all of them fulfilling the same purpose: they reduce stress and promote a parasympathetic response. Research has shown that the following 5 techniques can specifically benefit people with chronic pain:
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Visualization
- Biofeedback
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Autogenic relaxation
4. Mindfulness Meditation
Defined as “training the mind to rest in the present moment”. (1) One way this can be useful is in reducing one’s fearful and catastrophic thinking. In this podcast, Dr. Beverly E. Thorn discusses the importance of using cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions in clinical practice. Mindfulness will likely become more prevalent in psychosocial pain care, as it not only has applications for pain coping, but also for practitioner burnout.
5. Problem Solving
Patients with chronic pain can be prone to negative or fatalistic thinking, increasing stress and feeding into the cycle of fatigue and subsequent pain. Physiotherapists can help their patients to identify cognitive problems before devising a viable and positive solution. One often overlooked first step is to clarify the patient’s values. Acceptance and Commitment therapy provides a wonderful framework for “values work” that can get your patient’s feet moving in the right direction toward activities that are important to them.
6. Pleasant Activity Scheduling
Pleasant activities motivate patients by encouraging them to maintain social connections and a positive attitude. PTs can (and should) emphasize the importance of making commitments to enjoyable activities and following through with them, even if that means setting a goal to do so in the future.
Pleasant activities motivate patients by helping them to maintain social connections and keep a positive attitude Share on X7. Pacing
Clients who pace themselves based on how they feel risk the potential of overdoing an activity. Time-based pacing, where the patient learns to stop an activity 10%-20% before their pain threshold, is the preferred approach in activity planning, as it helps patients to avoid this yo-yo cycle.
8. Exercise
Clinical practice guidelines have shown that exercise is an essential component of any chronic pain management program. (6). A skilled PT can prescribe conditioning exercises specific to their clients’ pain concerns, recommending low impact exercises, such as yoga and tai chi, as appropriate. An exercise prescription can also be issued to promote movements or activities that increase fear and avoidance.
9. Cognitive Restructuring
Teaching patients how to use calming “self-statements” to redirect negative and fearful thinking can greatly reduce stress. One example might be reminding a patient that a current pain episode is the result of overdoing it the day before, and that they overdid it because they were feeling good. Cognitive restructuring can offer patients a fresh and more empowering perspective.
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10. Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies
Cognitive behavioral skills can overlap pain coping skills, both of which are an important part of any pain care program. Below is a sampling of pain coping skills and cognitive-behavioral skills you can use in pain care:
Pain Coping Skills
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Activity pacing
- Calming self-statements
- Problem-solving
Cognitive-Behavioral Skills
- Wellness behaviors
- Pleasant activity scheduling
- Time-based activities
- Cognitive restructuring
You can learn more about cognitive-behavioral therapy in clinical practice in this article, “5 Psychologically Informed Approaches to Pain Care.”
As science continues to shed new light on our understanding of chronic pain, we welcome research advances that we can readily integrate in order to optimize patient care. In what ways do you incorporate cognitive-behavioral strategies or pain-coping skills into your practice? Leave a comment below or connect with us on FB. We would love to hear from you!
In what ways do you incorporate cognitive-behavioral strategies or pain-coping skills into your practice? Share on XREFERENCES:
- Russek L, McManus C. A practical guide to integrating behavioral and psychologically informed approaches into physical therapist management of patients with chronic pain. Orthopaedic Practice 2015;27:8-16.
- Louw A, Puentedura EL, Mintken P. Use of an abbreviated neuroscience education approach in the treatment of chronic low back pain: a case report. Physiother Theory Pract 2012;28(1):50-62.
- Meeus M, Nijis J, Van Oosterwijck, et al. Pain physiology education improves pain beliefs in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared with pacing and self-management education: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010;91(8):1153-9.
- Castro MM, Daltro C. Sleep patterns and symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2009;67:25-8.
- Davies KA, Macfarlane GJ, Nicholl BI, et al. Restorative sleep predicts the resolution of chronic widespread pain: results from the EPIFUND study. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008;47:1809-13.
- California Department of Industrial Relations. Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines, in Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), 2009. Available: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/DWCPropRegs/MTUS_Regulations/MTUS_ChronicPainMedicalTreatmentGuidelines.pdf. Accessed Oct 27, 2018.
