# “Learn and Move” Program for the Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Primary Care: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

A physiotherapy program combining education and exercise helps manage chronic musculoskeletal pain in primary care, with lasting benefits.

## Contribution

This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and medium-term effectiveness of a group-based multimodal physiotherapy program in primary care for chronic pain.

## Key findings

- Significant improvements in quality of life, pain intensity, and catastrophizing were observed at 6 months.
- Between 54% and 78% of participants achieved clinically meaningful improvements in key domains.
- Clinical benefits were maintained without deterioration over the medium term.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
A multimodal physiotherapy program that combines pain neuroscience education and therapeutic exercise is useful for the effective management of chronic musculoskeletal pain.The clinical benefit obtained in this program is stable, with no indications of relevant deterioration in the medium term.

A multimodal physiotherapy program that combines pain neuroscience education and therapeutic exercise is useful for the effective management of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

The clinical benefit obtained in this program is stable, with no indications of relevant deterioration in the medium term.

What are the implications of the main findings?
The results obtained suggest that this type of program is feasible for implementation in primary care and well accepted by patients. It may represent a useful alternative for the management of chronic pain in this setting.Given the long-term nature of chronic pain, it seems advisable to develop longer-term strategies, including maintenance activities, to consolidate and sustain the observed benefits over time.

The results obtained suggest that this type of program is feasible for implementation in primary care and well accepted by patients. It may represent a useful alternative for the management of chronic pain in this setting.

Given the long-term nature of chronic pain, it seems advisable to develop longer-term strategies, including maintenance activities, to consolidate and sustain the observed benefits over time.

Background/Objectives: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent in primary care and is associated with impaired quality of life and increased healthcare utilization. Multimodal physiotherapy approaches combining pain neuroscience education and therapeutic exercise are recommended; however, evidence regarding their feasibility and medium-term effects in Spanish primary care remains limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a group-based multimodal physiotherapy program on health-related quality of life and other clinical outcomes. Methods: A multicenter, quasi-experimental pilot study with a pre–post design and 6-month follow-up was conducted in two primary care physiotherapy units in Spain. Adults with non-specific chronic musculoskeletal pain lasting ≥6 months participated in a 12-week group-based intervention combining pain neuroscience education and therapeutic exercise. Outcomes included health-related quality of life (SF-36), pain intensity (VAS), pain catastrophizing (PCS), kinesiophobia (TSK-11), central sensitization (CSI), analgesic consumption, healthcare utilization, and patient satisfaction. Intragroup changes, effect sizes, and minimal clinically important difference were analyzed. Results: Thirty-seven participants completed the program, with adherence > 80% and no adverse events. Significant improvements were observed at 6 months in all outcomes, with moderate to large effect sizes (SF-36, VAS, PCS). Between 54% and 78% of participants achieved minimal clinically important differences in key domains. Improvements were maintained at follow-up without clinically relevant deterioration. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that a group-based multimodal physiotherapy program is feasible and potentially effective for managing chronic musculoskeletal pain in primary care. Larger controlled trials are warranted.