Pain Neuroscience Education in Physiotherapy Students With Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

NCT07249710 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KBU-2025-2208
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 79
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program in physiotherapy students who experience chronic non-specific low back pain. The PNE session focuses on explaining pain mechanisms, central sensitization, and the role of psychological, cognitive, and behavioral factors in chronic pain. Participants complete outcome measures assessing pain intensity, pain knowledge, pain catastrophizing, and kinesiophobia before and immediately after the intervention. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a brief educational session can produce immediate improvements in pain-related outcomes in a student population.

Conditions

Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain; Physiotherapist Students

Keywords

low back pain; pain neuroscience education; physiotherapy; pain knowledge

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Pain Intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale)

  Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), a 0-10 scale where higher scores indicate greater pain. Participants report their average low back pain in the last week. In the NPRS, individuals were asked to verbally rate the severity of their pain on a scale from 0 to 10. The minimum clinically significant difference for the NPRS was reported as 2 points.

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

• Pain Knowledge (Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire - rNPQ)

  Pain knowledge was measured using the Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ). Higher scores indicate deeper understanding of pain neurophysiology.

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

• Pain Catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale - PCS)

  Pain catastrophizing was measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). The Likert-type scale consists of 13 items, with each item scored from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The higher the total score, the higher the degree of negative and exaggerated thoughts about pain

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

• Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia - TSK)

  Kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Higher scores reflect greater fear of movement and reinjury. The TSK has a total of 17 items, and each item is scored using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = "disagree" to 4 = "strongly agree." The total score ranges from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater fear of injury.

  Baseline and immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (1)

Pain Neuroscience Education Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Single-group intervention arm receiving a 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education session. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention.

Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)

Interventions

Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) BEHAVIORAL

The program consists of a single 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) session, which includes explanations of pain neurophysiology, central sensitization, biopsychosocial pain concepts, and cognitive-behavioral factors influencing chronic pain. Delivered by a trained certified physiotherapist.

Pain Neuroscience Education Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Undergraduate physiotherapy and rehabilitation students
• Chronic non-specific low back pain for at least 3 months
• Pain intensity ≥3/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale in the last week
• willing to participate

You may not qualify if:

• History of back surgery within the last 6 months
• Presence of neurological, orthopedic, cardiac, or systemic chronic disease
• Current participation in any physiotherapy, exercise, or medical treatment for low back pain

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ayşe ŞİMŞEK: lead

Study Sites (1)

Karabük University Faculty of Health Sciences

Karabük, 78050, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• AYŞE ŞİMŞEK, MSc

  Karabuk University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant, PhD Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2025
• First Posted: November 25, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2025
• Study Completion: October 31, 2025
• Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)