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Stress and Alterations in the Pain Matrix: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Back Pain and Its Prevention and Treatment

Author

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  • Pia-Maria Wippert

    (Sociology of Health and Physical Activity, Department of Health Science, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, House 12, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
    Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, HCP, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Christine Wiebking

    (Sociology of Health and Physical Activity, Department of Health Science, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, House 12, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
    Institute of Psychology and Education, Applied Emotion and Motivation Research, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany)

Abstract

The genesis of chronic pain is explained by a biopsychosocial model. It hypothesizes an interdependency between environmental and genetic factors provoking aberrant long-term changes in biological and psychological regulatory systems. Physiological effects of psychological and physical stressors may play a crucial role in these maladaptive processes. Specifically, long-term demands on the stress response system may moderate central pain processing and influence descending serotonergic and noradrenergic signals from the brainstem, regulating nociceptive processing at the spinal level. However, the underlying mechanisms of this pathophysiological interplay still remain unclear. This paper aims to shed light on possible pathways between physical (exercise) and psychological stress and the potential neurobiological consequences in the genesis and treatment of chronic pain, highlighting evolving concepts and promising research directions in the treatment of chronic pain. Two treatment forms (exercise and mindfulness-based stress reduction as exemplary therapies), their interaction, and the dose-response will be discussed in more detail, which might pave the way to a better understanding of alterations in the pain matrix and help to develop future prevention and therapeutic concepts.

Suggested Citation

  • Pia-Maria Wippert & Christine Wiebking, 2018. "Stress and Alterations in the Pain Matrix: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Back Pain and Its Prevention and Treatment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:785-:d:141708
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vanessa Marcelino & Maria Paço & Andreia Dias & Vera Almeida & José Carlos Rocha & Rui Azevedo & Miguel Alves-Ferreira & Carolina Lemos & Teresa Pinho, 2022. "The Role of Pain Inflexibility and Acceptance among Headache and Temporomandibular Disorders Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Xiao Cheng & Mengna Song & Jingxia Kong & Xinglin Fang & Yuqing Ji & Meibian Zhang & Hongmei Wang, 2019. "Influence of Prolonged Visual Display Terminal Use and Exercise on Physical and Mental Conditions of Internet Staff in Hangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-11, May.

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