A proof-of-concept study on the impact of a chronic pain and physical activity training workshop for exercise professionals

Abstract

ObjectivesPhysical activity is essential for long-term chronic pain management, yet individuals struggle to participate. Exercise professionals, including fitness instructors, and personal trainers, are preferred delivery agents for education and instruction on chronic pain, physical activity, and strategies to use adherence-promoting behavioral skills. However, exercise professionals receive no relevant training during certification or continuing education opportunities to effectively support their participants living with chronic pain. Based on the ORBIT model for early pre-efficacy phases of development and testing of new behavioral treatments, the present Phase IIa proof-of-concept study was conducted. The purpose was to examine the impacts of a newly developed chronic pain and physical activity training workshop on psychosocial outcomes among exercise professionals. Outcomes included knowledge and attitudes regarding chronic pain, attitudes and beliefs about the relationship between pain and impairment, and self-efficacy to educate and instruct participants with chronic pain.MethodsForty-eight exercise professionals (Mage=44.4±11.0 years) participated in a three-hour, in-person workshop that was offered at one of four different locations. Participants completed pre- and post-workshop outcome assessment surveys.ResultsMixed MANOVA results comparing time (pre- versus post-workshop) by workshop location (sites 1 to 4) illustrated a significant within-subjects time effect (p<0.001). All outcomes significantly improved from pre- to post-workshop (p′s<0.001), demonstrating large effect sizes (partial eta-squared values ranging from 0.45 to 0.59).ConclusionsFindings offer early phase preliminary support for the effectiveness of the chronic pain and physical activity training workshop for exercise professionals. Based on ORBIT model recommendations, findings warrant future phased testing via a pilot randomized clinical trial as well as testing for impacts that trained professionals have on activity adherence among their clients living with chronic pain. Eventual workshop adoption by exercise professional certification organizations would ensure widespread and sustainable access to qualified exercise professionals to help individuals engage in physical activity. By increasing the capacity of available exercise professionals to deliver effective support, active individuals could better manage their chronic pain and live well.

Interprofessional Active Learning for Chronic Pain: Transforming Student Learning From Recall to Application

“…Fortunately, even brief interventions aimed at changing healthcare provider beliefs away from biomedical and towards biopsychosocial principles of CP appear to be effective. [45][46][47][48][49][50][51] Despite encouraging clinical evidence for educating providers about pain, interprofessional health students are likely the most important audience, 52 because clinician beliefs and abilities around pain management are shaped early in their clinical training. 52 Educators in medicine 53 and physical therapy 54 have called for students to be assessed in their ability to evaluate and treat pain in practice-based learning simulations that mirror clinical practice, similar to a competency-based educational model.…”