Effectiveness of the AlgoSTherapy Pain Neuroscience Education Program with Enhanced Communication Skills for Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the AlgoSTherapy Pain Neuroscience Education PNE program for adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain lasting more than three months in areas such as the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder, or knee. The study aims to assess whether adding communication skills training for physiotherapists improves pain, function, and psychosocial outcomes compared to PNE alone or usual physiotherapy care. The trial follows CONSORT guidelines and includes participants aged 18 to 65 who experience moderate pain most days and speak Greek. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group receives individualized PNE along with communication-focused physiotherapy delivered by trained therapists. The second group receives the same PNE intervention without additional communication training for physiotherapists. The third group receives usual physiotherapy care without any PNE or communication training. All interventions consist of ten sessions over five weeks with two sessions per week. Throughout the study, participants will complete assessments at baseline, after the intervention, and at three months follow-up. These evaluations include various measures of pain intensity, function, psychosocial factors, therapeutic alliance, and treatment satisfaction. Researchers will monitor adherence and any adverse effects electronically. The primary outcome is pain intensity measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, with secondary measures assessing related physical and psychological factors.

Effectiveness of Communication-Focused Pain Neuroscience Education in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain