Multimodal Pain Therapy Research Articles

Self-efficacy expectation as acentral concept in interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy : Conceptual horizon, implementation, recording and limits

The concept of self-efficacy expectation shows high relevance for interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMST) aimed at activity and self-regulation due to its theoretical embedding and empirical correlations to the experience of pain. Several issues limit this potential: At the level of the construct definition, there are ambiguities and overlaps with other concepts. Apain-specific transfer to IMST has not yet been performed. With the help of existing instruments, only asmall part of what an IMST can achieve in terms of increasing pain-specific competence seems to be detectable. In perspective, aclarification of terms by including patients and the conception of aquestionnaire based on this is indicated.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) : A retrospective study of changes in pain, psychometric variables, and analgesic consumption during inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT)

Since March1, 2017, medical cannabis (MC) can be prescribed nationwide in Germany. To date, there have been anumber of qualitatively different studies on the effectiveness of MC in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of THC in the course of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) on pain and several psychometric variables. For the study, in the period 2017-2018, all patients in the pain ward of aclinic who were suffering from FMS and were treated in amultimodal interdisciplinary setting were selected based on inclusion criteria. The patients were examined separately according to groups with and without THC about pain intensity, various psychometric parameters and analgesic consumption during the stay. Of the 120FMS patients included in the study, 62patients (51.7%) were treated with THC. In the parameters of pain intensity, depression, and quality of life, there was asignificant improvement in the entire group during the stay (p < 0.001), which was significantly greater through the use of THC. In five of the seven analgesic groups examined, the dose was reduced or the drug discontinued significantly more often in the patients treated with THC. The results provide indications that THC can be considered as amedical alternative in addition to the substances previously recommended in various guidelines.

Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy in headache disorders

Primary headaches are among the most common pain disorders. They include migraines (prevalence 15%), tension headaches (up to 80%), and others, including trigeminal autonomic headaches (about 0.2%). Migraine, in particular, leads to significant impairment of personal life and high societal costs. Therefore, the need for effective and sustainable therapeutic procedures is high. This article provides an overview of psychological procedures in headache therapy and critically summarizes the empirical evidence for the effectiveness of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMST) consisting of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. It can be shown that psychoeducation, relaxation procedures, cognitive behavioral therapy, and biofeedback are psychological procedures from which headache patients can benefit. In the synopsis of multimodal approaches in the treatment of headache, consistently greater effects can be observed when both pharmacological treatment and psychotherapeutic procedures are used. This added value should be regularly taken into account in the treatment of headache disorders. This requires close cooperation between headache specialists and psychotherapists who specialize in the treatment of pain.

Emotional competence of patients with chronic pain : A self- and third-party assessment

The aim of the study is to assess the status quo of emotional competence in people with chronic pain. How do patients experience themselves regarding to their ability to perceive, express, and regulate emotions? And does this assessment coincide with the assessment of emotional competence (EC) by mental health professionals? The study took place in the context of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy at an outpatient clinic in N = 184 adult German-speaking individuals with non-cancer-related chronic pain. EC was assessed at the end of therapy using the self- and third-party assessment scales of the Emotional Competence Questionnaire. The external assessment was performed by the mental health team. Standard scores were created using the norm sample provided by questionnaires. These were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Self-perceived EC was average (Mself_total = 99.31; SD = 7.78). The mental health professionals predominantly rated the emotional competence of the patients significantly lower (Mexternal_total = 94,70; SD = 7,81; F(1.179) = 35,73; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.17). Emotional expressivity, as acomponent of EC, was externally rated as below average (Mexpressivity_external = 89.14, SD = 10.33). Patients with chronic pain rate themselves as unimpaired in terms of their daily emotional awareness, expression, and regulation abilities. At the same time, mental health professionals rate these same individuals as significantly less emotionally competent. The question remains open as to what extent the divergent assessments can be explained by assessment bias.

Interdisciplinary pain therapy in the elderly

Chronic pain in the elderly is becoming increasingly important and is associated with serious health impacts. Therefore, international guidelines demand that pain therapy for the elderly preferably be amultimodal therapy based on abio-psycho-social pain model. Specific psychometric tests and interview guidelines are available for the interdisciplinary pain assessment. Evidence for the effectiveness of multimodal pain therapy in the elderly remains limited. However, controlled clinical trials have shown that these patients benefit-especially if the intervention is adapted to their specific needs. The focus of movement therapy is not only muscle strengthening but also coordination exercises. In individual physical therapy and occupational therapy, everyday solutions can be developed for individual physical limitations that are more frequent in old age. In psychological training, pain acceptance, balancing rest and activity, social integration and dealing with aging are particularly important topics. Relaxation and mindfulness techniques can also favorably affect pain and function. Thus, these are popular with patients and are often adopted in everyday pain management. Pain education is considered useful as an adjunctive measure and can also be increasingly supported by digital media in the elderly. Complementary therapy components include confrontational treatment of fear-avoidance beliefs (the German AMIKA scale, Ältere Menschen in körperlicher Aktion, "older people in physical action") and naturopathic applications as an active self-help strategy. Since it is unclear how long the achieved therapeutic effects last, follow-up care is of particular importance in therapy for older patients.

Evaluation of a multimodal pain therapy approach with relapse prophylaxis for back pain (MMS-RFP study): a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

IntroductionThe need for an interdisciplinary multimodal approach to the treatment of back pain has already been demonstrated by various studies. However, when considering the periods of incapacity to work in...

Complementary and alternative medicine-An option for chronic pain patients?

The interest of patients with chronic pain in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is high. The aim of an accompanying complementary therapy is to strengthen the patient's self-efficacy, the ability to make decisions and the autonomy. The best evidence exists for physical activity and abalanced diet. Exercise combinations of strength and endurance as well as targeted strengthening of the muscles in the area of the pain are particularly suitable. When choosing the form of exercise, low-threshold training options are recommended. There is no reliable evidence for kinesio taping, homeopathy, neural therapy and draining procedures. The extensive data on acupuncture must be interpreted taking methodological limitations into account. Heat applications can support multimodal pain therapy. In the case of anti-inflammatory phytotherapeutic agents, there are good rationales from basic research and reliable empirical knowledge regarding the dosage. The evidence on cannabis is low.

Control center team in interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy

The topic of this article is the team in interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) in the context of the development of the team concept. The starting points are historical developments, both social and scientific. After World WarII numerous war victims continued to suffer from persistent pain. On the part of medicine, the consequences were the failure of the usual procedures for acute pain and the resulting helplessness. Both the concept of pain as asymptom of physical injury and also the previous treatment options were no longer adequate. Very early on an interdisciplinary approach to pain management was organized. This involved the communication of experts from various disciplines with very different competencies and opinions. Various medical disciplines and psychotherapy were the core subjects. Crucial for functioning teams is an effective cooperation and interaction. Related organizational issues, conflicts, peculiarities, and possibilities for solutions are presented. In the meantime, IMPT as aprocedure has become aregular service provided in health care.

Implementation of required sedation assessment in nursing workflow to address naloxone utilization.

Opioid-related adverse drug events continue to occur. This study aimed to characterize the patient population receiving naloxone to inform future intervention efforts. We describe a case series of patients who received naloxone in the hospital during a 16-week time frame in 2016. Data were collected on other administered medications, reason for admission to the hospital, pre-existing diagnoses, comorbidities, and demographics. Twelve hospitals within a large healthcare system. 46,952 patients were admitted during the study period. 31.01 percent (n = 14,558) of patients received opioids, of which 158 received naloxone. Administration of naloxone. Main outcome of interest: Sedation assessment via Pasero Opioid-Induced Sedation Scale (POSS), administration of sedating medications. POSS score was documented prior to opioid administration in 93 (58.9 percent) patients. Less than half of patients had a POSS documented prior to naloxone administration with 36.8 percent documented 4 hours prior. 58.2 percent of patients received multimodal pain therapy with other nonopioid medications. Most patients received more than one sedating medication concurrently (n = 142, 89.9 percent). Our findings highlight areas for intervention to prevent opioid oversedation. Investing in electronic clinical decision support mechanisms, such as sedation assessment, could detect patients at risk for oversedation and ultimately prevent the need for naloxone. Coordinated order sets for pain management can reduce the percentage of patients receiving multiple sedating medications and promote the use of multimodal pain management in efforts to reduce opioid reliance while optimizing pain control.

WHAT DO PATIENTS PERCEIVE AS HELPFUL DURING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MULTIMODAL PAIN THERAPY?

Chronic pain is recognised as a problem worldwide. Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (MMPT) is currently the gold standard of treatment.The aim of the present prospective observational study is to research whether chronic pain patients form an intention for lifestyle change during a 4-week-long treatment at the Outpatient Clinic for Pain Therapy and Conservative Orthopedics in Heidelberg, Germany, and how sustainable this change is after 3 months. In addition, we theorized a connection between standardised survey endpoints and the number of therapy units perceived as helpful (TPAH). Finally, the effect of socio-demographic factors on patient perceptions were put into perspective.Clinical data was collected via 3-part-questionnaires from 95 German-speaking patients at 4 checkpoints between 05/2020 and 11/2021 at admission (T1), after 2 weeks (T2), at discharge (T3) and 3 months post-treatment (T4). The questionnaires consisted of already established scores for surveying chronic pain patients, such as the von Korff Chronification Scale, ODI, HADS, PSEQ/FESS, and FABQ, a grading scale for each therapy unit, and free answers.Patients were most likely to implement Group Walking in their everyday lives. A higher number of TPAH neither lowered nor improved significantly the change in lifestyle, but both a higher number and bigger lifestyle changes improved significantly the scores across the standardised surveys. Furthermore, no significant change in intention happened between the second and the fourth week. Physical components were perceived throughout as more helpful.The results of this research support the efficacy of MMPT in multi-faceted improving of the patient's well-being and lowering the possibility for pain chronification. A higher number of TPAH could be translated as having more available techniques to combat chronic pain in everyday life. The number of TPAH and the amount of lifestyle change both influence positively the survey scores, yet no connection between them was found. A third factor could be the reason for this constellation. The possibility that the more mental therapies are offered, the more likely it is for those to be perceived as helpful, cannot be excluded either. Further research is required on both topics.

Effects of Different Forms of Sensorimotor Training on Postural Control and Functional Status in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain.

The aim of this study was to compare three sensorimotor training forms in patients with chronic low back pain to determine their effects on the reduction of pain-related impairment and changes in posturography. Over two weeks, during the multimodal pain therapy (MMPT) period, six sessions of sensorimotor physiotherapy or training in the Galileo® or Posturomed® (n = 25 per group) were performed. A significant reduction in pain-related impairment after the intervention phase was shown across all groups (time effect: p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.415). There was no change in postural stability (time effect: p = 0.666; ηp2 = 0.003), but there was a significant improvement in the peripheral vestibular system (time effect: p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.081). An interaction effect was calculated for the forefoot-hindfoot ratio (p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.111). Only the Posturomed® group showed an improvement in anterior-posterior weight distribution (heel load: 47% vs. 49%). These findings suggest that these forms of sensorimotor training in the context of MMPT are suitable for reducing pain-related impairment. Posturography demonstrated stimulation of a subsystem, but no improvement in postural stability.

Multimodal programmes in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) – a two-step review

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common ailments associated with the human musculoskeletal system, characterised by the presence of the so-called trigger points (TrP – trigger point; MTrPs – myofascial trigger points). The International Association for the Study of Pain indicates that MPS may affect approximately one-third of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and that there is a lack of appropriate classification which can be attributed to a misunderstanding and/or misinterpretation of the pathophysiology. Given the diverse causes of pain syndromes in myofascial structures, it is vital to properly select and integrate therapeutic methods. The scientific literature indicates that treatment programmes should include a variety of manual therapy methods and rehabilitation exercises. Trigger point therapies, such as dry needling or dry cupping, are also widely used. At the heart of the success of rehabilitation programmes, in the opinion of the authors of this publication, is their multimodality, i.e. selection of therapeutic methods based on the cause of the pain, providing for measurable, reproducible diagnostic methods in therapy. Aim of the study. The aim of this study is to analyse and infer conclusions on multimodal myofascial pain therapy programmes. Material and methods. Given the complex research problem set as the aim, the study was carried out through a literature review in terms of two criteria: Criterion I (C I): analysis of the literature on the etiology and pathogenesis of myofascial pain (i.e. causes and triggers, symptoms, social and environmental factors determining the onset of MPS), diagnostic procedures (initial diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of treatment outcomes), and therapeutic methods used in the course of MPS. Criterion II (C II): a literature study of research publications addressing multimodal programmes for myofascial pain therapy, with their qualitative evaluation using the modified PEDro scale, and empirical testing of hypotheses based on the literature study and the analysis made in Part I. Data sources: PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, MEDLINE, PEDro, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar electronic databases were searched systematically, restricting the languages to English and German only. Results. The analysis of the literature showed that the causes, symptoms and associations of myofascial pain have been described in detail. There are also numerous reports on a variety of therapeutic methods, together with a precisely described methodology for their implementation. It is not uncommon to recommend combining methods into multimodal programmes, which unfortunately does not mean that there are many such programmes or that studies on MPS are consistent. The literature study on multimodal treatment programmes for MPS revealed that there is no correlation between its pathogenesis and a purposeful selection of specific therapeutic methods. In a small number of cases, a complex etiopathogenesis led to the formation of multidisciplinary teams. This may be associated with the absence of strict recommendations on the diagnostic methods applicable to the assessment of MPS. Conclusions. 1. Multimodal programmes for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, notably MPS and MTrPs, should include a detailed and comprehensive diagnosis (structural, biochemical, psycho-emotional) which should serve as the basis for the formation of interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams. 2. Musculoskeletal diagnosis, in addition to radiological assessment, should include measurable techniques of postural and functional assessment (such as pedobarography, wearable sensors, assisted anthropometry, i.e. photogrammetry, videogrammetry, etc.), aimed primarily at the ongoing assessment of posture. 3. The choice of therapeutic methods and patient education should be based on the causes of the patient’s pain, taking into account systemic diseases, postural defects, lifestyle and psycho-emotional state. 4. Scientific research in multimodal treatment programmes should be carried out in randomised groups, with due attention to the methodologies of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and group selection.

Transcranial direct current stimulation to reduce chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis: Phase II Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

It is known that various chronic pain conditions lead to maladaptive changes in the central nervous system. Endometriosis is frequently associated with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Its sufficient treatment remains a clinical challenge. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to be a powerful method to reduce chronic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate pain reduction via anodal tDCS in patients with endometriosis and CPP. This clinical phase-II, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel designed study included 36 patients with endometriosis and CPP. All patients suffered from CPP defined as ≥ 3/10 on the visual analog scale (VAS) for ≥3 month in the past six months. Anodal or placebo tDCS (18 patients per arm) was applied over the primary motor cortex for 10 days. Primary outcome measure was pressure pain threshold (objective pain measure) as well as secondary outcomes were numerical rating scale (NRS, subjective pain measure), Von-Frey-monofilaments, and disease- and pain-related questionnaires. Data was collected at baseline, after the 10-day stimulation and at a follow-up session, which took place one week after ending tDCS. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and t-tests. Significant decreased pain perception in both pain measurements: i) pressure pain threshold and ii) NRS were found for the active tDCS group compared to the placebo group. This proof-of-concept study shows that tDCS is a helpful/supporting pain therapy for patients with endometriosis and CPP. Moreover, further analyses revealed that one week after finishing the stimulation, pain reduction remained significantly decreased as indexed by pressure pain threshold indicating possible long-term analgesic effects. The present study provides evidence that tDCS is an effective therapy for pain reduction in endometriosis-associated CPP. The results found support the notion that CPP is developed and maintained in the central nervous system making a multimodal pain therapy necessary. NCT05231239.

Pressure Pain Thresholds and Central Sensitization in Relation to Psychosocial Predictors of Chronicity in Low Back Pain

(1) Background: Peripheral, as well as central, sensitization have been described in chronic low back pain (cLBP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of psychosocial factors on the development of central sensitization. (2) Methods: This prospective study investigated local and peripheral pressure pain thresholds and their dependence on psychosocial risk factors in patients with cLBP receiving inpatient multimodal pain therapy. Psychosocial factors were assessed using the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ). (3) Results: A total of 90 patients were included in the study, 61 (75.4% women, 24.6% men) of whom had significant psychosocial risk factors. The control group consisted of 29 patients (62.1% women, 37.9% men). At baseline, patients with psychosocial risk factors showed significantly lower local and peripheral pressure pain thresholds, suggesting central sensitization, compared to the control group. Sleep quality, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), was also correlated with altered PPTs. After multimodal therapy, all participants reported increased local pain thresholds compared to at admission, independent of psychosocial chronification factors. (4) Conclusions: Psychosocial chronicity factors measured using the ÖMPSQ have a significant influence on pain sensitization in cLBP. A 14-day multimodal pain therapy increased local, but not peripheral, pressure pain thresholds.

Multimodal pain therapy for persistent idiopathic facial pain - a pilot study.

Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain (PIFP) is a pain syndrome with missing evidence-based therapy recommendations. According to the biopsychosocial pain model, multidisciplinary pain treatment (MPT) offers a promising therapeutic option for chronic pain syndromes. MPT is an interprofessional treatment procedure, consisting of medical, physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic treatment units, which has not yet been studied in PIFP. This retrospective study included 25 patients with PIFP, who had been treated with MPT. Pain intensity on the numerical rating scale (NRS), perceived disability, habitual well-being, as well as anxiety/depression and stress scales were recorded. Moreover, the patients evaluated the efficacy of each type of the single therapeutic interventions. There was a highly significant decrease in the characteristic pain intensity. Also habitual well-being improved significantly, as did anxiety and depression. The perceived disability and stress also improved, but without statistical significance. Physiotherapy was rated as the most effective therapeutic unit. Among the medical measures, consultations took first place (40% of the participants). Nearly three-fourths of the patients (72%) would recommend MPT. The present study shows beneficial outcomes in patients with PIFP following MPT. Patients evaluate physiotherapeutic treatment as particularly efficacious. Therefore, MPT can be considered as a therapeutic option in patients with PIFP.

Author Reply

We agree with Reed et al. that the use of multimodal pain therapy is crucial to reducing opioid exposure in the post-operative setting. Ketorolac in particular has been shown in our study and others to be associated with decreased post-surgical opioid use with minimal added risk in properly selected patients. As the authors discussed, behavioral interventions that educate physicians on the harms of opioid use and provide feedback on their performance relative to their peers are also effective tools in mitigating opioid-associated harm.

Chronic pain in elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic

HintergrundInternationale Studien belegen negative Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie auf Stimmung und Stresslevel befragter Personen. Auch konnten Zusammenhänge zwischen der Pandemie und höheren Schmerzstärken sowie stärkerer schmerzbedingter Beeinträchtigung nachgewiesen werden. Die Studienlage dazu, ob ältere Menschen besser oder schlechter mit der Pandemie und ihren Auswirkungen umgehen können als jüngere Personen, ist aber uneindeutig.MethodikSeit einigen Jahren bietet das Universitätsklinikum Würzburg ein multimodales Schmerztherapieprogramm für SeniorInnen an. Für die vorliegende Arbeit wurden retrospektiv klinische Routinedaten zum Zeitpunkt des interdisziplinären multimodalen Assessments von n = 75 TeilnehmerInnen in den Jahren 2018 und 2019 mit denen von n = 42 Patientinnen während der COVID-19-Pandemie 2020–2021 verglichen. Wir untersuchten Schmerz, psychische Belastung und körperliches Funktionsniveau mithilfe des Deutschen Schmerzfragebogens, klinischer Diagnostik und geriatrischer Funktionstests.ErgebnisseDie beiden Teilstichproben unterschieden sich nicht in demografischen Merkmalen. Bezüglich Schmerzintensität und Beeinträchtigung sowie der psychischen Belastung fanden sich ebenfalls keine signifikanten Unterschiede. Lediglich die Anzahl der schmerzbedingt beeinträchtigten Tage war vor Corona signifikant höher. Die geriatrischen Funktionstests zeigten signifikant bessere Werte während der Pandemie an.DiskussionDie vorliegenden Daten zeigen keine Verschlechterung von Schmerz und körperlichem sowie psychischem Wohlbefinden bei SeniorInnen vor dem Hintergrund der Pandemie. Weitere Studien sollten die möglichen Gründe dafür untersuchen. Diese könnten in einer höheren Resilienz der SeniorInnen basierend auf ihrer Lebenserfahrung, finanziellen Sicherheit oder einer geringeren Veränderung des Lebensalltags liegen.

Enhanced recovery after cleft palate repair: A quality improvement project.

Children undergoing cleft palate repair present challenges to postoperative management due to several factors that can complicate recovery. Utilization of multimodal analgesic protocols can improve outcomes in this population. We report experience designing and implementing an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway for cleft palate repair to optimize postoperative recovery. The primary aim was to implement an ERAS pathway with >70% bundle adherence to achieve a 30% reduction in postoperative opioid consumption within 12 months. Our secondary aims assessed intraoperative opioid consumption, length of stay, timeliness of oral intake, and respiratory recovery. A multidisciplinary team of perioperative providers developed an ERAS pathway for cleft palate patients. Key drivers included patient and provider education, formal pathway creation and implementation, multimodal pain therapy, and target-based care. Interventions included maxillary nerve blockade and enhanced intra- and postoperative medication regimens. Outcomes were displayed as statistical process control charts. Pathway compliance was 77.0%. Patients during the intervention period (n=39) experienced a 49% reduction in postoperative opioid consumption (p < .0001) relative to our historical cohort (n=63), with a mean difference of -0.33 ± 0.11 mg/kg (95% CI -0.55 to -0.12 mg/kg). Intraoperative opioid consumption was reduced by 36% (p=.002), with a mean difference of -0.27 ± 0.09 mg/kg (95% CI -0.45 to -0.09 mg/kg). Additionally, patients in the intervention group had a 45% reduction in time to first oral intake (p=.02) relative to our historical cohort, with a mean difference of -3.81 ± 1.56 h (95% CI -6.9 to -0.70). There was no difference in PACU or hospital length of stay, but there was a significant reduction in variance of all secondary outcomes. Opioid reduction and improved timeliness of oral intake is possible with an ERAS protocol for cleft palate repair, but our protocol did not alter PACU or hospital length of stay.

Increase in Lower Limb Strength after Multimodal Pain Management in Patients with Low Back Pain.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multimodal pain therapy (MPM) regarding the objective parameter muscle strength of segment-dependent lower limb muscle groups before and after such a treatment. Materials and Methods: 52 patients with a history of low back pain and/or leg pain received standardized multimodal pain management. Strength of segment indicating lower limb muscles were assessed for each patient before and after ten days of treatment by handheld dynamometry. Results: Overall strength increased significantly from 23.6 kg ± 6.6 prior to treatment to 25.4 ± 7.3 after treatment, p ≤ 0.001. All muscle groups significantly increased in strength with exception of great toe extensors. Conclusions: Despite lower basic strength values at the beginning of treatment, all investigated muscle groups, except for the great toe extensors, showed a significant increase of overall strength after completion of the multimodal pain management concept. Increased overall strength could help with avoiding further need of medical care by supporting patients’ autonomy in daily life activities, as well as maintaining working abilities. Thus, our study is the first to show a significant positive influence on lower limb strength in patients with low back pain after a conservative MPM program.

Multimodal Chronic Pain Therapy for Adults via Smartphone: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BackgroundCombination therapies delivered remotely via the internet or mobile devices are increasingly being used to improve and promote the self-management of chronic conditions. However, little is known regarding the long-term effects of these interventions.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal intervention program that measures associated variables such as catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and quality of life using a mobile device in people with chronic pain in an outpatient setting.MethodsA randomized controlled clinical trial was performed using parallel treatment groups. A total of 209 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomly assigned to one of the two study arms. The intervention group received a standard web-based psychosocial therapy-type program of activities through a smartphone for 6 weeks. The control group only had access to the Find out more section of the app, which contained audiovisual material for pain management based on a self-help approach. The primary outcome was catastrophizing measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Secondary outcomes were pain acceptance measured using the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire and health-related quality of life measured using the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), after treatment (T2), and at the 3-month follow-up (T3). The variations between the different phases were assessed using the percentage change rescaled with log base 2. The Cohen d was calculated based on the results of the linear mixed model. The investigators of the study who evaluated the results were not involved in patient recruitment and were blinded to the group assignment.ResultsPositive effects were found in the intervention group (T2–T1) in catastrophizing between the baseline and posttreatment phases (P<.001) and in helplessness (−0.72 vs 0.1; P=.002), rumination (−1.59 vs −0.53; P<.001), acceptance (0.38 vs 0.05; P=.001), and quality of life (0.43 vs −0.01; P=.002), although no significant changes were found for magnification (0.2 vs 0.77; P=.14) and satisfaction with health (0.25 vs −0.27; P=.13). Three months after treatment, significant differences were observed in the intervention group for the outcome variable of catastrophizing (PCS; −0.59 vs 0.2; P=.006) and the PCS subscales of helplessness (−0.65 vs 0.01; P=.07), rumination (1.23 vs −0.59; P=.04), and magnification (0.1 vs 0.86; P=.02).ConclusionsThe results of our study suggest that app-based mobile multidimensional treatments for adults with chronic pain improve catastrophizing, quality of life, and psychological flexibility immediately after treatment and that the effects are maintained for the primary outcome of catastrophizing for at least 3 months following treatment. Moreover, they promote self-management and can be used to complement face-to-face pain treatments.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04509154; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04509154