Objective: The program aims to provide PD individuals with skill sets, knowledge, and tools necessary to effectively self-manage their pain through non-pharmacological approaches. By empowering participants to take primary responsibility for their physical & emotional well-being through active coping strategies, the program seeks to enhance functional independence, maximize activities of daily living, and boost confidence in pain management. It aims to facilitate gradual re-engagement in life activities, promoting a return to a productive life.

Background: Pain, a prevalent non-motor symptom in PD, affects up to 80% of patients, often overlooked and undertreated, leading to diminished quality of life. Despite pharmacological advancements, managing pain in PD remains challenging due to medication side effects, comorbidities, and individual pain perceptions.

A virtual group intervention, tailored for individuals aged 50-65+ with mild to moderate PD, prioritizes non-pharmacological approaches, aligning with PD CPG recommendations and evidence-based pain neuroscience education to address this unmet need in care.

Method: The program is delivered virtually in a group setting for 4 weeks & total of 8 sessions. It comprises 3 core components: initial intake, group sessions focused on understanding pain neuroscience, reconnecting, retraining, flare-up & freezing mgt, and re-engagement in community activities. To evaluate outcomes, key measurement scales such as the King Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale and Patient Specific Functional Scale, alongside baseline functional assessments.

Results: The program has demonstrated success in empowering participants to manage pain symptoms through non-pharmacological means, resulting in autonomy and increased confidence.

A total of 24 individuals, divided into 8-person groups, engaged in the 4-week program, with an average age of 58 years and a gender distribution of 60% females and 40% males. Participants exhibited a 40% increase in confidence and proficiency in gradually reintegrating PD-recommended exercises, alongside a 30% enhancement in re-engaging in daily life activities. These improvements were accompanied by a reduction in fear associated with physical activity and increased perceived control of their condition.

Conclusion: The program demonstrates promising results in enhancing pain management and overall well-being among individuals with PD.

References: Buhmann, C., Kassubek, J., & Jost, W. H. (2020). Management of Pain in Parkinson’s Disease. In Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (Vol. 10, Issue s1, pp. S37–S48). IOS Press BV. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-202069

Liebermann, J. D., Witte, O. W., & Prell, T. (2020). Association between different coping styles and health-related quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 10(7), e036870. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036870

Mylius, V., Perez Lloret, S., Cury, R. G., Teixeira, M. J., Barbosa, V. R., Barbosa, E. R., Moreira, L. I., Listik, C., Fernandes, A. M., de Lacerda Veiga, D., Barbour, J., Hollenstein, N., Oechsner, M., Walch, J., Brugger, F., Hägele-Link, S., Beer, S., Rizos, A., Chaudhuri, K. R., … Ciampi de Andrade, D. (2021). The Parkinson disease pain classification system: results from an international mechanism-based classification approach. Pain, 162(4), 1201–1210. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002107

Edinoff, A., Sathivadivel, N., McBride, T., Parker, A., Okeagu, C., Kaye, A. D., Kaye, A. M., Kaye, J. S., Kaye, R. J., Sheth, M. M., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2020). Chronic pain treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease. Neurology International, 12(3), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint12030014

Valkovic, P., Minar, M., Singliarova, H., Harsany, J., Hanakova, M., Martinkova, J., Benetin, J., & LeDoux, M. S. (2015). Pain in Parkinson’s disease: A cross-sectional study of its prevalence, types, and relationship to depression and quality of life. PLoS ONE, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136541

Tennigkeit, J., Feige, T., Haak, M., Hellqvist, C., Seven, Ü. S., Kalbe, E., Schwarz, J., Warnecke, T., Tönges, L., Eggers, C., & Loewenbrück, K. F. (2020). Structured care and self-management education for persons with parkinson’s disease: Why the first does not go without the second—systematic review, experiences and implementation concepts from sweden and germany. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(9), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9092787

Allen, N. E., Moloney, N., van Vliet, V., & Canning, C. G. (2015). The rationale for exercise in the management of pain in Parkinson’s disease. In Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (Vol. 5, Issue 2, pp. 229–239). IOS Press BV. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-140508

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluating-the-impact-of-the-pain-self-management-program-in-pd/