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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hugo Mass\u00e9-Alarie, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and researcher at Universit\u00e9 Laval’s Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en r\u00e9adaptation et int\u00e9gration 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n