Ground breaking research project

Simon Hynes and Tim Cocks have been invited by David Butler, NOI Group to participate in a trial of a new model of treatment management titled ‘The Health Performance Programme’.

The Health Performance (HP) model is presently targeting early intervention, aimed at injured workers who are still having troubles 3 to 12 weeks post injury. The HP model is based on “neuroscience backed biopsychosocial practice”.  The first phase of the project where fifteen physiotherapists have been invited to upskill their knowledge and invest in 100 hours of education is now over with Simon and Tim displaying a very high level of competency. Once final ethics approval is received, patients will enter the trial.

Key features

The Health Performance programme includes any evidence based strategies which are relevant to a particular patient, but it has a particular focus on enhancing health literacy via multimedia targeted neuroscience education and strategies to target known brain changes in chronic pain. It also attempts to demedicalise spinal pain with less but longer visits.

Expected outcomes

The Health Performance Programme Phase 1 study reflects the culmination of over 10 years research into the re-conceptualisation of pain as a critical component of rehabilitation. “Explain Pain” Butler and Moseley (2003) is an example of the research outcomes. The data allows the hypothesis that if we intervene in the period which patients are at most risk of ‘going chronic’ (3 - 12 weeks post injury) with a treatment that targets the brain’s representation of the injury and pain; we will reduce the proportion of workers who remain off work.

Support

The Health Performance Programme is being supported by the University of South Australia, Employer’s Mutual and Neuro Orthopaedic Institute. Two PhD students are also involved in the study.

Article kindly supplied by David Butler, NOI Group.