Background: Chronic neck pain and functional disability is a common occurrence following whiplash injuries and frequently results in sensory, motor, and psychological dysfunction. Individuals presenting with chronic pain may exhibit widespread hypersensitivity, post-traumatic stress reactions, and emotional distress. Therapeutic neuroscience education (TNE) is a physical therapy intervention aiming to assist with pain, suffering, and disability by helping patients understand pain from a biological and physiological perspective. Case Description: The patient was a 42-year-old female presenting with left-sided neck pain with radiating symptoms throughout her left shoulder and spine following a motor vehicle accident. Evaluation at 7 months post-injury revealed intolerable pain throughout the cervical and thoracic spine, cervical mobility impairments, and a history of migraines, depression, and anxiety. This case report illustrates the rehabilitation approach used to enable effective execution of functional tasks in an unrestricted manner. Intervention: Rehabilitation progressed for 12 visits (6 weeks) including TNE, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises. TNE was implemented to educate regarding nociceptive inputs, the sensory cortex, pain perception, central sensitization, and the brain neuromatrix. Outcome Measures: The patient demonstrated a Functional Measure of 31/100 and Physical Fear Score of 19/100 on the Focus On Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO) Assessment during the initial evaluation. Following 6-weeks of physical therapy rehabilitation, the patient demonstrated a Functional Measure of 88/100 and Physical Fear Score of 80/100. Discussion: The purpose of this case report is to discuss the clinical reasoning and rehabilitation approach for an individual with chronic pain. This case report supports the use of TNE, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise for chronic disorders in reducing pain, improving knowledge of pain, and reducing disability and psychosocial factors relating to pain.
Dissertation
The Clinical Application of Therapeutic Neuroscience Education to Address Chronic Neck Pain Following a Whiplash Injury: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Autumn 2017
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Clinical Application of Therapeutic Neuroscience Education to Address Chronic Neck Pain Following a Whiplash Injury: A Case Report
- Creators
- Joel Ingram - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Laura Frey Law (Advisor)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2017
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 10 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2017 Joel Ingram
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984109999902771
Metrics
331 File views/ downloads
232 Record Views