Effectiveness of biopsychosocial approach for subacute neck pain among geriatrics

Abstract

Background: The geriatric Population faces common health challenges such as Frailty and neck Pain, which increases the risk for adverse ADL. It leads to a greater level of disability & Headache risk, lower physical functioning and reduced quality of life. A Biopsychosocial Approach centred on activities, emphasizing the enhancement of Biological factors, Psychological factors and Social functional performance to achieve the goals of the Biopsychosocial Approach. This involves intensifying exercise training by leveraging the environment, conducting thorough task analysis, providing feedback and consistently repeating training sessions. Objective: To determine the effects of the Biopsychosocial Approach on Subacute Neck Pain in the geriatric population, focusing on pain, neck-specific disability and work status. Methods: 64 samples were randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group received the Biopsychosocial Approach, which integrated biological, psychological and social aspects activity-centred, emphasizing repeated training sessions over 8 weeks. The control group underwent Conservative Management 3 days/week for the same duration. Pre and post-test assessments were conducted using the PCS, NDI and AQoL-8D. Results: The significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group were demonstrated by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Mann-Whitney Rank scores (p < 0.001). Specifically, participants in the experimental group experienced reduced neck pain, enhanced neck function, and improved quality outcomes. The results suggest that the Biopsychosocial Approach effectively addressed the multifaceted nature of pain. Conclusion: The study provides compelling evidence supporting Biopsychosocial in reducing neck pain and improving overall quality of life among geriatric populations.