The Benefits of a Therapeutic Exercise and Educational Intervention Program on Central Sensitization Symptoms and Pain-Related Fear Avoidance in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Pain Manag Nurs

Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Málaga, Andalucia Tech, Spain; School of Clinical Science, Faculty of Health Science, Queensland University Technology, Australia.

Published: August 2022

Background: Central sensitization symptoms and pain-related fear avoidance are two common problems in breast cancer survivors. Non-pharmacologic interventions such as therapeutic exercise and patient education can be effective in this population.

Aims: This study aimed to: (1) analyze the benefits of a therapeutic exercise and educational program on central sensitization symptoms and pain-related fear avoidance in breast cancer survivors, and (2) explore the association between pain-related fear avoidance and central sensitization symptoms.

Design: A single group pre-post intervention study was conducted.

Methods: Patients were recruited from the service of Medical Oncology of the University Clinical Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, in Málaga (Spain). The intervention consisted of a therapeutic exercise and educational program that lasted 12 weeks, twice a week, for 1 hour. Two instruments were used: the Spanish version of the Central Sensitization Inventory and the Spanish Fear Avoidance Components Scale.

Results: A total of 82 breast cancer survivors participated in the study. Pre-post change on Central Sensitization Inventory was statistically significant (p = .007). There was a trend towards a significant difference for the Spanish Fear Avoidance Components Scale (p = .062). There was a statistically significant correlation between pain-related fear avoidance and central sensitization symptoms (r = 0.536, p < .001).

Conclusions: The current study has provided preliminary evidence on the benefits of this intervention in pain-related fear avoidance and central sensitization symptoms in breast cancer survivors. The Spanish version of the Central Sensitization Inventory and the Spanish Fear Avoidance Components Scale demonstrated responsiveness to change.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2022.01.003DOI Listing

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