Table 1 List of group psychoeducational and physiotherapy workshops for people with chronic non-cancer pain
Educational Area | Workshop | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
Pain Psychotherapy | Introduction to Basic Pain Concepts | Provide basic knowledge about chronic pain. |
Emotions Associated with the Pain Experience | Facilitate the identification of emotions and their connection to somatic and pain experiences. Train in relaxation techniques. | |
The Process of Active Acceptance | Facilitate the identification of the role of anxiety in the fight/flight response to discomfort and its effects. Introduce active acceptance as an alternative to control. | |
Attention Focus | Link pain perception to hyper-alertness and vigilance over bodily sensations. Emphasize the importance of maintaining flexible attention. Train in meditation and body visualization. | |
Communication | Raise awareness of how pain issues affect communication patterns and may lead to isolation. Connect with personal needs. Propose assertive communication alternatives. | |
Recap and Relapse Prevention | Encourage an active role in maintaining learned skills. Identify potential barriers and obstacles to maintaining progress. Prevent relapses. | |
Physiotherapy workshops with a focus on pain neuroscience education | Pillars of Physiotherapy Treatment for Persistent Pain | Understand why pain education has positive effects. Identify personal beliefs and experiences influencing pain perception. Understand therapeutic exercises tailored to reduce pain and improve quality of life. |
Nervous System as an “Alarm System” | Through metaphors, understand the complexity of the pain perception system and how its operation influences painful experiences. Understand the phenomenon from a multifactorial perspective. Learn how different factors can influence pain perception and highlight some tools to manage these factors. | |
Sleep Hygiene and its Relationship to Pain | Understand the importance of sleep in managing persistent pain and its bidirectional relationship with sleep deprivation and increased nervous system sensitivity. Provide sleep hygiene counselling and offer strategies to improve sleep quality. | |
Therapeutic Exercise and Self-Efficacy | Understand the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in reducing pain and improving functionality. Propose individualization and gradualness in the exercise prescription. Promote self-efficacy and confidence in performing the exercise. Provide specific therapeutic exercises that may be helpful in the initial phases of treatment. |