Dee publishes randomized control trial of physical therapy strategies for chronic pain after trauma

Congratulations to Justine Dee, MS, Clinical Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Movement Science on the publication of a major article from her doctoral research!

Justine McCuen Dee & Benjamin Littenberg (2022) Regional vs global physical therapy interventions to treat chronic pain in survivors of trauma: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2022.2159615

ABSTRACT

Background

A history of traumatic life events is associated with chronic pain in later life. Physical therapists utilize a variety of methods to treat pain, however, they have struggled to find effective interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Objective

To compare impairment-based, regional (REGION-PT) physical therapy (PT) to a global (GLOBAL-PT) model consisting of pain neuroscience education, graded motor imagery, and exercise for adults with chronic pain and history of trauma.

Design

Randomized Controlled Trial.

Methods

Adults ≥ 18 years of age with chronic pain and a history of ≥1 trauma identified through the Life Events Checklist received the allocated intervention once a week for six weeks. Treatment effects were assessed using linear mixed models.

Results

Ninety-eight participants completed the trial. There were no difference in outcomes between groups. There were significant interactions between race and intervention. Both interventions were associated with improvements in pain interference for white participants, but non-white participants experienced improvement only with GLOBAL-PT. Regardless of allocation, participants improved in physical function, six of the PROMIS-29 domains, and in pain interference measures.

Conclusion

Both interventions are reasonable strategies for individuals with chronic pain and a history of trauma.