Back and neck pain are common disorders and are often accompanied with mental problems. This combination of physical and mental problems requires a bio-psychosocial approach. A newly developed intervention (Back2Action) combines the usual physiotherapeutic care with digital modules aimed at reducing mental problems. In this project we will evaluate Back2Action and investigate how we can implement Back2Action in primary physiotherapy practice.
Back and neck pain are among the top ten leading causes of functional limitations in adults worldwide. In 90% of cases, the pathoanatomical substrate is absent, and the condition is termed non-specific back and neck pain. Both are frequently accompanied by psychosocial problems, such as depression and anxiety, both of which are also among the top ten causes of functional disability in adults.
Physiotherapists in primary care are the ideal professionals to treat people with long-term non-specific back and/or neck pain. A bio-psychosocial approach to treat this is desirable given the complexity of back and neck pain, which have biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Physiotherapists often lack the skills to address these psychosocial problems. To support physiotherapists in this regard, a blended intervention (Back2Action) has been developed, which combines digital health with face-to-face physiotherapy.
Back2Action combines regular primary physiotherapy treatments and digital health modules aimed at reducing psychosocial factors. These modules are based on the principles of pain education and behavioral activation, and consist of written information, patient examples, videos, and various assignments. In this project we will evaluate Back2Action and investigate how we can implement Back2Action in primary physiotherapy practice.