Tailoring pain neuroscience education and exercise programme for people with fibromyalgia who also have cognitive deficits: a case series. (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pires, Diogo; Costa, Daniela; Martins, Isabel Duque; Cruz, Eduardo B.
• Is Part Of: European journal of physiotherapy. Volume 20:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Pain neuroscience education -- exercise -- patients with fibromyalgia -- cognitive deficits; Therapeutics, Physiological -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; 615.8205
• DOI: 10.1080/21679169.2018.1429492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-9169

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this case series was to describe the outcomes of a tailored pain neuroscience education (PNE) and individualised exercise programme for people with fibromyalgia (FM) who also have cognitive deficits. Materials and methods: Nine FM patients with memory and concentration problems underwent a six-week programme consisting of six PNE sessions followed by six sessions of individualised exercise. Participants were assessed at the baseline, 3 and 6 weeks, and at 3 and 6 months follow-ups. Outcomes measures included the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQ-R) and the Patient Global Improvement of Change Scale (PGIC). Results: At six weeks, all patients decreased their scores on the TSK, PCS, NPRS and FIQ-R and reported a moderate to considerable improvement in their perception of overall change. At the six-month follow-up, improvements in pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia and perception of overall change, appeared clinically meaningful for the majority of the participants. Conclusions: This study's findings demonstrate an example of how cognitive characteristics can be considered in the intervention of FM patients in order to optimise their results and encourage the need for a further randomised control trial.