A look back on PSIM26: The positive and negative “affect” of sleep on chronic pain   October 16th, 2026
Do we not all experience a poor night of sleep sometimes? Importantly, this can impact our mood and even our pain perception the next day, which is especially relevant in persons with chronic pain. Chronic pain, defined as pain persisting or recurring for more than three months, affects millions of people worldwide and reflects one of the leading causes of years lived with disability. Remarkably, chronic pain is commonly associated with sleep disturbances, with poor sleep consistently linked to greater daily pain. However, the sleep-pain link is known to be multifactorial and thereby influenced by a variety of factors in a person’s daily life. Among these factors, affect emerged as a potential contributor to this association.
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A look back on PSIM26: Connecting the Dots in the Chronic Pain Brain   October 16th, 2026
Anyone delving deeper into the world of chronic pain research will have noticed a wide array of theories and studies on the brain [1]. On one hand, functional neuroimaging research looks at the activity of certain areas of the brain or what areas seem to be ‘talking’ to each other. On the other hand, structural neuroimaging studies highlight which brain regions look different or what regions are connected with each other [2]. However, researchers still do not quite understand how these altered brain regions interact with each other and what this has to do with chronic pain. Furthermore, structural and functional studies are rarely integrated. While functional data gives us information about active networks, it does not guarantee strong physical connections within this network. On the opposite hand, structural studies provide us with an anatomical framework for the network but does not guarantee the active use of all connections. So, even though there is plenty of brain research, there is still a lot of work to be done!
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a look back on psim26: Decoding T cell dysfunction in ME/CFS: are exhaustion and senescence the answer?   October 7th, 2026
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating and complex chronic disease, characterized by a wide range of symptoms including severe fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), chronic widespread pain, sleep problems and cognitive impairments. Although the biological mechanisms underlying ME/CFS are not yet fully understood, researchers have discovered that several biological systems function differently in individuals with ME/CFS compared to healthy people.
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a look back on PSIM26: What happens to pain, mood and the brain when sleep is disrupted?   October 5th, 2026
A bad night of sleep can leave us feeling more irritable, less focused, and sometimes even more sensitive to pain. But what happens to pain, mood and the brain when sleep is deliberately disrupted? At Pain Science in Motion 2026, I presented our ongoing systematic review on the effects of experimental sleep disruption on these outcomes.
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A look back on PSIM26: LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER: MORE THAN SURVIVAL   September 29th, 2026
Around 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Fortunately, about 90% of women survive for more than five years after their diagnosis. However, surviving breast cancer does not always mean returning to life as it was before. Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) continue to experience long-term symptoms related to cancer or its treatment. One of the most common symptoms is pain, which affects almost half of BCS. For some of these women, pain is also accompanied by perceived injustice.
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A look back on PSIM26: Could your low back pain be linked to how your body metabolizes sugar?   September 22nd, 2026
Could chronic low back pain be linked to how your body processes sugar? The GLOW study investigates whether altered glucose metabolism in people with chronic low back pain may be related to the IGF1/GH hormonal axis and changes in DNA methylation. Researchers will combine continuous glucose monitoring, nutritional interventions, and blood analyses to explore these potential biological links. Understanding these mechanisms could provide new insights into chronic low back pain and help identify potential biomarkers. Interested in participating? Visit **paininmotion.be/glow** to learn more about the GLOW study.
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A look back on PSIM26: Could better sleep help new mothers recover?   September 16th, 2026
For many new mothers, sleepless nights are simply seen as part of the job. But what if persistent sleep problems are more than just a consequence of having a baby - and could actually affect recovery, mental health, physical activity and pain within this population?
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A look back on PSIM26: How lifestyle influences sugar metabolism as a driver of chronic low back pain   September 10th, 2026
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is defined as pain for at least 3 months every day and has no structural cause, such as spinal pathologies, in 90% of cases. This inability to identify the root cause leads to overuse of painkillers and surgery. However, recent research lifts a corner of the veil as to why some people experience low back pain although no structural changes are present.
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Pain on the Autism spectrum   April 1st, 2026
Pain is usually assessed through questionnaires and standardized protocols. However, these approaches may not capture the variability in pain experiences among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to the same extent as they do in neurotypical individuals. Differences in communication, sensory processing, and behavioral expression may influence how pain is perceived, expressed, and interpreted. Consequently, pain in autistic individuals is often underrecognized and misunderstood.
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More than pain – endometriosis and it’s impact on daily life   March 18th, 2025
Endometriosis is a painful gynaecological condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus (mainly on pelvic organs). The exact prevalence of endometriosis is unknown. This is partly due to the delays in diagnosis, which take an average of seven years. However, its global prevalence is estimated to affect 10% of women [1-3]. In other words, there are 190 million women worldwide who have to manage symptoms such as chronic and cyclic pain, risk of infertility and other comorbidities such as migraines, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis [2,3].
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Exploring the benefits of deep breathing for cancer patients   March 18th, 2025
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. Patients with cancer often experience a range of acute and chronic symptoms, including pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and cognitive dysfunction. These symptoms, collectively known as the symptom cluster, significantly impact the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. Recent research has explored various non-invasive methods to alleviate these symptoms, with deep breathing exercises emerging as a promising intervention.
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The Power of Phenotyping in Breast Cancer Care: Enhancing Pain Management Strategies   December 23rd, 2024
Breast cancer treatment is a challenging journey, often accompanied by a range of side effects, including persistent pain that can affect up to 40% of survivors. This ongoing discomfort significantly diminishes quality of life, making effective pain management a critical component of post-treatment care. A recent study of De Groote et al. (2024) has opened new avenues in understanding how phenotyping breast cancer patients during the perioperative stage can lead to improved pain management strategies and inform outcomes related to persistent pain one year after surgery.
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Words Matter: The Role of Language in Patient Care   November 6th, 2024
Words have an incredible power to influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Whether in healthcare, personal interactions, or professional settings, the language we use can significantly impact outcomes. This blog post explores the profound effects of words. Research has shown that the way information is framed can influence behaviour, change perceptions, and even alter physical sensations like pain.
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The role of oxytocin in chronic pain   November 5th, 2024
Chronic musculoskeletal pain remains a challenging condition to manage, not only because of its physical impact but also due to the significant role psychosocial factors, like stress, play in exacerbating the condition (Kang et al., 2023). Recent research has begun to highlight the potential of oxytocin, a hormone traditionally associated with childbirth and social bonding, in modulating both pain and stress, potentially offering new avenues for chronic pain management (Mekhael et al., 2023).
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An anti-inflammatory lifestyle to alleviate chronic pain   November 4th, 2024
Inflammation is a vital part of the body’s defence mechanism, but its role extends far beyond fighting off infections. It can be linked to a wide range of conditions such as pain, fatigue, cancer, and diabetes. But how does this process contribute to such diverse symptoms?
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The Role of Perceived Injustice in Chronic Pain: What We Know and Why It Matters   November 1st, 2024
When people think about chronic pain, it is often focused on physical symptoms. However, there is a great shift towards a biopsychosocial (compromising biological, psychological and social factors) thinking of pain1 to understand the complete context.
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CONTRADICTORY MESSAGES ABOUT PAIN: WHAT ABOUT PAIN EDUCATION IN CURRENT CURRICULA?   August 30th, 2024
Finding the cause of a patient’s pain complaint can be a real struggle for both the patient and the healthcare provider, especially when the pain is chronic (i.e., lasts longer than three months (1)) and widespread. This struggle often leads to frustration in many patients, as the messages they receive about the cause and treatment of their pain are often contradictory, depending on their healthcare providers (2). Unfortunately, this problem is very common in daily clinical practice.
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Pijn: een expeditie naar interdisciplinair gebied   August 29th, 2024
Nieuw zijn in de wereld van pijnonderzoek, maar zeker wel vol zitten met interesse en motivatie, moedigde mij aan om in de literatuur te duiken rond het onderwerp. Niet enkel in professionele en academische context, maar ook daarbuiten in het dagelijkse leven kreeg mijn leeslijst langzaamaan een andere inhoud. In deze tekst vertel ik de lezer graag meer over mijn meest recente literair avontuur: Pijn: een expeditie naar onbestemd gebied, door Sanne Bloeminck.
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Shifting the Focus: How the European Pain Federation’s Latest Position Paper on Physical Activity for chronic pain and the PECAN Study can Transform Chronic Pain Management After Breast Cancer   August 28th, 2024
Chronic pain is a significant issue that affects millions of people, including those who have survived breast cancer. Traditional treatments often focus on medications, but recently published insights from the European Pain Federation (EFIC) are shifting the spotlight toward physical activity as a primary intervention for chronic pain.
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THE INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC STRESS ON CORTISOL LEVELS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CHRONIC PAIN   August 27th, 2024
An introduction to the stress response systems In modern society, we have to deal with daily stressful events challenging our own body and its capabilities1. Think about posting something on Instagram and waiting for that first like, managing a heavy workload with strict deadlines, or worrying about the things you will have to do tomorrow.
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What’s in a name? Discussion about whiplash associated disorders (WAD)   August 27th, 2024
Whiplash associated disorders (WAD) have been a source of discussion for a long time. Controversy exists between the presence of chronic complaints of the cervical spine and a sustained whiplash trauma with questions about the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of whiplash injuries (Yadla S et al, 2008).
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“Are you a catastrophizer?” Understanding the patient perspective on pain catastrophizing   August 26th, 2024
The term "catastrophizing" was first introduced in 1962 by A. Ellis to describe a key factor in emotional dysfunction.1 He defined it as “exaggerating adversities into something far worse than they actually are; seeing things at their worst when they are sometimes relatively minor; and greatly exaggerating the frequency and/or danger of something that you dislike”.
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The social prescription: why do we need to pay attention to the social environment and support of our patients?   July 23rd, 2024
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine identifies social connection as one of the essential pillars of therapeutic lifestyle interventions for treating chronic conditions. This pillar, alongside others such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, and the avoidance of risky substances like tobacco and alcohol, plays a crucial role in promoting health.
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The Healing Power of Breath: Exploring Deep Breathing Exercises for Pain Management   May 31st, 2024
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to overlook the simple yet profound act of breathing. However, for centuries, cultures around the world have recognized the therapeutic benefits of deep breathing exercises. In this blog post, we delve into the realm of breathwork and its remarkable potential in managing pain, offering a holistic approach to well-being that harnesses the power of the breath.
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Chronic pain: The brain didn’t get the message.   May 31st, 2024
Lisa Feldman Barrett, a well-respected neuroscientist, psychologist and known for her groundbreaking research on emotion, the brain, and the mind, shares some sublime insights in her book “How Emotions are Made.
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