Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Do Subjects with Whiplash-Associated Disorders Respond Differently in the Short-Term to Manual Therapy and Exercise than Those with Mechanical Neck Pain?
To compare the short-term effects of manual therapy and exercise on pain, related disability, range of motion, and pressure pain thresholds between subjects with mechanical neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders. ⋯ The current clinical trial found that subjects with mechanical neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders exhibited similar clinical and neurophysiological responses after a multimodal physical therapy intervention, suggesting that although greater signs of central sensitization are present in subjects with whiplash-associated disorders, this does not alter the response in the short term to manual therapy and exercises.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Online Pain Management Education on Primary Care Providers.
To improve pain management practices, we developed an online interactive continuing education (CE) program for primary care providers (PCPs). This program follows the flow of clinical decision-making through simulated cases at critical pain treatment points along the pain treatment continuum. ⋯ Findings suggest online CE programs may positively impact PCPs' knowledge, attitudes, and pain practice behaviors but provide minimal evidence for the value of including interactivity.
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Chronic pain management is a growing focus of attention, in part because of concern over excessive use of opioids for treatment of chronic noncancer pain. In the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), pain specialty clinics have been established to address the needs of patients with challenging pain issues. The current study identified characteristics of such patients in a national sample of VHA service users in fiscal year 2012. ⋯ Patients attending pain specialty clinics have more difficult-to-treat pain conditions and comorbid psychiatric disorders that are independent of major medical diagnoses, use more outpatient services, and receive a greater number of opioid prescriptions. These data support the inclusion of mental health care in the specialized treatment of chronic pain.