Back Pain Chronic Back Pain Management 2

Question 1

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) helps chronic back pain patients primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Reducing pain catastrophizing and improving pain acceptance

Answer

MBSR teaches non-judgmental awareness of pain, which reduces catastrophizing, fear, and emotional reactivity to chronic pain.

Question 2

Which medication class carries the highest risk of physical dependence when used long-term for chronic back pain?

Accepted Answer

Opioids

Answer

Opioids carry the highest risk of physical dependence, tolerance, and opioid use disorder when used long-term for chronic pain.

Question 3

Which exercise type has the most evidence for reducing chronic low back pain intensity and improving function?

Accepted Answer

Mind-body exercises (yoga, tai chi) and strengthening/stabilization exercises

Answer

Stabilization exercises, yoga, and tai chi have strong evidence for reducing chronic LBP and improving functional outcomes.

Question 4

Sleep disturbance in chronic back pain patients is important to address because:

Accepted Answer

Poor sleep increases central sensitization and lowers pain thresholds

Answer

Sleep deprivation increases central sensitization, lowers pain thresholds, and amplifies the experience of chronic pain.

Question 5

Work-related psychosocial factors ('yellow flags') that predict chronicity of back pain include:

Accepted Answer

Job dissatisfaction, fear of re-injury, and low social support at work

Answer

Yellow flags are psychosocial risk factors — including job dissatisfaction and fear — that predict poor recovery and chronic disability.

Back Pain Practice Test