Neuroplastic TherapyEvidence-based approach to chronic symptoms

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1What is neuroplastic therapy?Definition, mechanism & causes 2The history of the therapySarno, Schubiner, Schechter, Clarke & others 3Are my symptoms neuroplastic?The FIT criteria 4How is it applied?The five steps 5TechniquesBreathing, somatic tracking, imagery 6Conditions that may benefitList with references 7Success storiesRecovery testimonials by condition 8Bibliography & documentationRCTs, neuroscience & references 9Contactinfo@neuroplastictherapy.gr
Section 6

Conditions that may benefit from a neuroplastic approach

Below are conditions for which there is scientific evidence that a neuroplastic approach can help. Next to each category is a reference to a representative published study.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain[1][2][3]
Chronic back pain (low back pain)[1][3][4]
Fibromyalgia[5]
Chronic fatigue syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - ME/CFS)[6]
Long COVID[6]
Whiplash syndrome[7][8][9]
Chronic pelvic pain[10]
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)[11]
Dyspeptic problems[11]
Food intolerances[11]
Headache & migraine[12]
POTS syndrome[13]
Insomnia[14]
Tinnitus[15]
Dizziness (PPPD)[16]
Paresthesias[17][18]
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)[18]
Nonepileptic seizures[18]
Protracted withdrawal syndrome[17]
Persistent medication side effects[17]
Autoimmune & post-vaccine syndromes[19][20][21]
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder)[22][23]
Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)[24]
Symptoms unexplained by tests[17]

Chronic back pain: one of the best-studied examples

Chronic back pain is one of the conditions in which Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) has been studied most extensively. This does not mean the approach is only for back pain. Neuroplastic mechanisms may play a role in different forms of chronic pain and persistent symptoms, with a different level of scientific evidence for each condition.

In the Boulder study, 151 adults with chronic back pain took part in a randomized trial of PRT. The results and five-year follow-up are presented in detail in the Bibliography.

Not every case of back pain is neuroplastic. Appropriate medical evaluation always comes first; the FIT criteria can then help explain a possible neuroplastic component.

The full references are listed in the Bibliography. For some specific conditions for which randomized data on the neuroplastic approach are not yet available, we cite evidence from the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) literature. However, in randomized trials directly comparing a neuroplastic treatment (EAET) with CBT, EAET was superior on several outcome measures.[2][5] For conditions for which no references are currently listed, their inclusion is based on individual case reports from patients who improved with this approach, as well as on the clinical observations presented in Dr. Howard Schubiner’s book, Unlearn Your Pain.