An exploration of the extent and nature of reconceptualisation of pain following pain neurophysiology education: A qualitative study of experiences of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain
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Objective Pain neurophysiology education (PNE), a method of pain education, purports to work by helping patients reconceptualise their pain, shifting from a tissue injury model towards a biopsychosocial understanding related to neural sensitivity. Better understanding of pain reconceptualisation following PNE is needed to improve the delivery of this educational approach to enhance its effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the extent and nature of reconceptualisation following PNE.Methods In a qualitative design, based on Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, thematic analysis was carried out on individual interviews with 7 adults before and three weeks after receiving PNE at a pain clinic.Results Three themes emerged describing variable degrees of reconceptualisation; prior beliefs as facilitators and barriers to reconceptualisation; and the influence of reconceptualisation on clinical benefits of PNE.Conclusion The results lend support to claims that reconceptualisation is an important mechanism in PNE and justify further investigation of this phenomenon.Practical implications When delivering PNE to patients with chronic pain helping patients to reconceptualise their pain may be key to enhancing the clinical benefits of the intervention. Understanding prior beliefs may be an important step in facilitating reconceptualisation.
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PNE supports a reconceptualization of pain, including helping to reframe beliefs around fear of movement or other adverse relationships to pain that inhibit a return to function or negatively impact quality of life.
“PNE supports a reconceptualization of pain including helping to reframe beliefs around fear of movement, or other adverse relationships to pain, that inhibit a return to function and/or negatively impact quality of life.20,28,50-52”
From Remotely Delivered Psychologically Informed Mindful Movement Physical Therapy for Pain Care: A Framework for Operationalization (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
Through PNE a person may gain insight that helps them shift from a perspective of pain as equal to tissue damage to a broader understanding of pain as a protective and adaptive response that may be activated by a wide array of body, mind, and environmental stimuli.
“Through PNE the person may gain insight that helps them shift from a perspective of pain as equal to tissue damage to a more broad understanding of pain as a protective and adaptive response which may be activated from a wide array of body, mind, and environmental stimuli.28,50-53”
From Remotely Delivered Psychologically Informed Mindful Movement Physical Therapy for Pain Care: A Framework for Operationalization (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
Pain neuroscience education is an integral part of physical therapy pain care.
“Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is an integral part of physical therapy pain care.”
From Remotely Delivered Psychologically Informed Mindful Movement Physical Therapy for Pain Care: A Framework for Operationalization (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
Shifting the mode of delivery from more didactic approaches to emphasizing patient-centered communication may foster receptivity to examine one's beliefs, support willingness and readiness for change, and explore personal relevance.
“Shifting the mode of delivery from more didactic approaches to emphasizing patient-centered communication may foster receptivity to examine one’s beliefs, support willingness and readiness for change, and to explore personal relevance.20,28,50,52,56”
From Remotely Delivered Psychologically Informed Mindful Movement Physical Therapy for Pain Care: A Framework for Operationalization (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
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References 30 · Cited by 53
- Authors
- King, R., Robinson, V., Ryan, C. G., & Martin, D. J.
- Affiliations
- James Cook University Hospital (GB)
- Teesside University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ryan, Cormac G.
- Venue
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-08
- Volume
- 99
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1389-1393
- ISSN
- 0738-3991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2296994374
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.tees.ac.uk
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- Locations
- Patient Education and Counseling (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Teesside University Research Portal (Teesside University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- chronic musculoskeletal pain, pain beliefs, biopsychosocial model of pain, neuronal sensitivity, pain education, patient experience, pain clinic
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Neurophysiology, Patient Education as Topic, Qualitative Research, Chronic Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, Pain Management
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