Manca Opara Zupančič1, Ziga Kozinc1
1University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, SI-6310 Izola, Slovenia
The Relationship between Pain Neurophysiology Knowledge and Attitudes toward Biopsychosocial Approach to Treatment of Back Pain in Physical Therapists in Slovenia
Sport Mont 2025, 23(1), 19-24 | DOI: 10.26773/smj.250203
Abstract
Integrating the biopsychosocial model in physical therapy is essential for effective pain management and requires properly educated physical therapist. This study examines if knowledge of pain neurophysiology influences physical therapists' preference for a biopsychosocial approach in treating back pain (BP) in Slovenia. Data were collected via an anonymous online survey, distributed to physical therapists in Slovenia. The final sample consisted of 66 participants, with a mean age of 30.4 years. The results indicated a significant negative correlation between NPQ (Neck Pain Questionnaire) scores and “Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists Ratio” (PABS-Ratio) (rho=–0.44; p<0.001), suggesting that physical therapists with higher pain neurophysiology knowledge are more inclined towards the biopsychosocial approach. The regression analysis revealed that NPQ score was the only significant predictor of PABS-Ratio (R²=0.31). This study demonstrates a significant relationship between pain neurophysiology knowledge and a preference for the biopsychosocial approach to treating BP among physical therapists in Slovenia. Therapists with greater knowledge of pain neurophysiology are more likely to adopt a biopsychosocial approach. Future research should explore this relationship in different cultural contexts and investigate strategies to overcome barriers to the implementation of the biopsychosocial model in clinical settings.
Keywords
pain science, physical therapy, pain education, evidence-based practice, treatment preferences
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