Effect of pain neuroscience education on pain, kinesiophobia, disability, and quality of life in patients with frozen shoulder: a randomized controlled trial

Background Pain neuroscience education (PNE) focuses on the biopsychosocial framework, which assists in reconceptualizing pain. This facilitates the patient’s active involvement in therapy and enhances self-efficacy. The objective of the study was to analyse the effect of PNE on pain, kinesiophobia, disability, and quality of life in patients with frozen shoulder. A randomized controlled trial was employed in 30 patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder within the age group of 40 to 60 years were recruited at an outpatient rehabilitation center. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. One group received PNE along with conventional therapy ( N = 15) and the other received conventional therapy alone ( N = 15) for the duration of 4 weeks, thrice a week with a total of 12 sessions. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). Results In the PNE + conventional therapy group, a significant difference in pre- and post-intervention in NPRS, TSK, SPADI, and quality of life component; SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS ( p < 0.01). In the conventional therapy group, there was a significant difference in pre- and post-intervention in NPRS, TSK, SPADI, and quality of life component; SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS ( p < 0.01). Between the group analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in NPRS, TSK, SPADI, and quality of life component; SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS ( p < 0.01). There was better improvement in PNE as compared to the conventional therapy. Conclusion The findings suggest that the addition of pain neuroscience education to conventional physiotherapy may improve pain, kinesiophobia, disability, and quality of life in patients with frozen shoulder compared with conventional therapy alone.