Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in FQHC Primary Care Clinics

The Brief Pain Teleconsult intervention includes 2 sessions provided by a licensed physical therapist over about 1 week. The sessions focus on pain education from a biopsychosocial perspective that is designed to address negative pain appraisals and catastrophizing thoughts, providing advice to be active and engage in exercise and physical activity, and reassurance that activity is beneficial and safe.

The Telehealth Physical Therapy intervention involves weekly telehealth sessions provided over 10 weeks. Telehealth Physical Therapy is provided by a licensed physical therapist. Key components of the intervention include reinforcing biopsychosocial education messages and developing an exercise and physical activity program using cognitive behavioral principles such as goal setting and positive reinforcement. Pain coping strategies including mindful breathing and progressive relaxation techniques will be included.