Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) to Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress and Low Back Pain

"Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.~Session 1: the nervous system is like an alarm to protect.~Session 2: common ways the nervous system becomes sensitive.~Session 3: importance of gradual conditioning and neuroplasticity.~Session 4: common ways to decrease nervous system sensitivity."

"The exercise protocol for each group will be identical and modeled after the Back to Fitness program. This program will consist of a 5-10-minute cardiovascular warm-up of walking in place or riding an exercise bike. Next is a 15-minute circuit consisting of 10 different general exercises for 1-minute each. Finally, a 5-minute cool down will consist of light stretching and trunk range of motion exercises. Each exercise will be tailored as easy, medium, or hard depending on the individual patient's tolerance. This program has been shown to be equally as effective as motor control exercises for long-term outcomes in patients with non-specific LBP."

"Weekly education sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes each, once a week for four weeks.~Session 1 will include a basic overview of the anatomy of the spine.~Session 2 will discuss an overview of stress symptoms to include hypervigilance, avoidance, and re-experiencing.~Session 3 will cover common recommendations delivered in stress education: the do's and don'ts of stress management.~Session 4: review and mindfulness."