Implementation of Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain: Where Do We Stand, Where Do We Go?

Lindsay A Ballengee; Leah L Zullig; Steven Z George

doi:10.2147/JPR.S311973

Implementation of Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain: Where Do We Stand, Where Do We Go?

J Pain Res. 2021 Dec 7:14:3747-3757. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S311973. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Lindsay A Ballengee^{1

2

3}, Leah L Zullig^{3

4}, Steven Z George^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
² Division of Physical Therapy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
³ Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
⁴ Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA.
⁵ Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Abstract

Low back pain continues to be a leading cause of disability and cost throughout the world. Evidence-based guidelines recommend use of non-pharmacological interventions to address decreases in physical function due to low back pain. Psychologically informed physical therapy (PIPT) is one way to effectively and efficiently address the need for non-pharmacological approaches. However, adoption of psychologically informed practice (PiP) by physical therapists has shown mixed results due to implementation challenges. In this perspective, we discuss the current state of PIPT training and implementation. We also propose a conceptual roadmap for future implementation needs related to increasing delivery of PIPT-informed approaches.

Keywords: implementation science; non-pharmacological; pain; physical therapy.

Publication types

Review