Neuroscience Education
Pain neuroscience education is a research-based practice in which physical therapists teach patients more about pain itself. While pain is commonly associated with a specific injury or tissue damage, it is not a perfect reflection of the health of the tissue. In addition to traditional physical therapy, learning about the factors that influence pain in the body has been shown to improve function and diminish limitations due to pain.
What is Pain Neuroscience Education?
According to Physiopedia, “pain neuroscience education (PNE), also known as therapeutic neuroscience education (TNE), consists of educational sessions for patients describing in detail the neurobiology and neurophysiology of pain and pain processing by the nervous system[…] PNE changes a patient’s perception of pain.”
Patients who receive PNE for pain caused by damaged tissues will come to understand their pain may not be an accurate representation of their tissue health but might be due to overly sensitive nerves.
What to expect with PNE at Elevate Physical Therapy
PNE in Johnston or Ankeny can help a patient exhibiting fear-avoidance behavior to become more willing to move and participate in treatment. Pain Neuroscience Education can be used with several kinds of treatments, including exercise therapy that can be used to decrease movement-related pain memories as well as decrease sensitivity of the nervous system.
The great thing about PNE is that it translates the complex process of describing the nerves and the brain into a language and format that is easy to understand for everyone, regardless of age or educational level.
PNE methods can vary from clinic to clinic, but typically involve 4 hours of teaching that is provided to a group or individually. These 4 hours may be in one session or broken up into multiple sessions.
PNE is recommended in central sensitization conditions such as osteoarthritis, lower back pain, pelvic pain, fibromyalgia, whiplash, or lateral epicondylitis.
PNE simplifies scientific language and presents information to patients that may include the use of:
• Simple pictures
• Examples
• Booklets
• Metaphors
• Drawings
Can PNE benefit me?
The list of PNE benefits include, but are not limited to the following:
- Positive effect on overall physical performance
- Increased pain tolerance
- Improved outcomes of therapeutic exercises
- More thorough understanding of physical therapy
- Improved range of motion
To find out for sure if Pain Neuroscience Education can benefit you, contact Elevate Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Johnston or Ankeny today to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Our skilled and knowledgeable staff will make it their top priority to help you understand why you are experiencing your pain, as well as instruct you on ways to alleviate and prevent it from recurring. Request an appointment today to start living pain-free.
