Treating back pain more effectively also means taking into account its psychological impact.
A study from Laval University highlights the importance of taking psychological factors into account when treating back pain. Anxiety, fear of movement and pain-related concerns influence healing and must be considered to improve care.
Hugo Massé-Alarie, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and researcher at Université Laval’s Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, a member of the QPRN, and his team analyzed 29 studies involving more than 6,000 patients suffering from low back pain. They found that interventions combining physical and psychological aspects are more effective when targeting patients with psychological risk factors. These approaches reduce pain and improve functional capacity in the short, medium and long term.
The study highlights the need to adapt treatments to patient profiles. Physiotherapists, for example, need to incorporate gradual strategies to help those who fear movement. Better training of healthcare professionals in these psychological issues could optimize the management of chronic pain.
