Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31535053›Full record

ArticleThe South African journal of physiotherapy2019

Pain neuroscience education: Which pain neuroscience education metaphor worked best?

Adriaan Louw, Emilio J Puentedura, Ina Diener, Kory J Zimney, Terry Cox

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The South African journal of physiotherapy, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Clinical Practice Guideline: Nonspecific Neck Pain.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2025
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  10. Observational
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  18. Health-related quality of life deviations from population norms in patients with lumbar radiculopathy: associations with pain, pain cognitions, and endogenous nociceptive modulation.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Adriaan LouwInternational Spine and Pain Institute, Story City, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4895-8544
Emilio J PuenteduraDepartment of Physical Therapy, Baylor University, Waco, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4771-4732
Ina DienerPrivate, Stellenbosch, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7426-4840
Kory J ZimneyDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7513-2126
Terry CoxDepartment of Physical Therapy, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8681-5811

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe use of pain neuroscience education (PNE) has been shown to be effective in reducing pain, improving function and lowering fear and catastrophisation. Pain neuroscience education utilises various stories and metaphors to help patients reconceptualise their pain experience. To date no individualised study has looked at which stories and metaphors may be the most effective in achieving the positive outcomes found with the use of PNE.

objectivesThis study examined patient responses to the usefulness of the various stories and metaphors used during PNE for patients who underwent surgery for lumbar radiculopathy.

methodTwenty-seven participants who received preoperative PNE from a previous randomised control trial (RCT) were surveyed 1-year post-education utilising a 5-point Likert scale (0 - 'do not remember', 4 - 'very helpful') on the usefulness of the various stories and metaphors used during the PNE session. Participant demographics and outcomes data (pain intensity, function and pain knowledge) were utilised from the previous RCT for analysis and correlations.

resultsNineteen surveys were returned for a response rate of 70%. No story or metaphor mean was below 2 - 'neutral', lowest mean at 2.53; 6 of the 11 stories or metaphors scored a mean above 3 - 'helpful'.

conclusionNo individual story or metaphor stood out as being predominately important in being helpful in the recovery process through the use of PNE. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The overall messages of reconceptualising pain during PNE may be more important than any individual story or metaphor.

Indexed as

chronic painlumbar radiculopathy surgerymetaphorspain neuroscience educationphysiotherapysurvey

Identifiers

PMID31535053
PMCPMC6739553

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.