In this masterclass, Yannick Toussignant-Laflamme, a physical therapist and professor at the University of Sherbrooke, introduces the Pain and Disability Driver Management (PDDM) model. This model was developed to improve the management of low back pain by addressing the gap between evidence-based practices and actual clinical treatments. Toussignant-Laflamme highlights the complexity of managing low back pain and emphasizes the need for a more structured approach that goes beyond simple diagnostic labels. The PDDM model is grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework and identifies five domains that influence pain and disability: nociceptive pain drivers, nervous system dysfunction drivers, comorbidity drivers, cognitive-emotional drivers, and contextual drivers. Each domain is further divided into modifiable and less modifiable elements, aiming to provide a comprehensive diagnosis and targeted treatment plan.

Toussignant-Laflamme argues for a flexible, biopsychosocial approach to identify the various factors contributing to a patient’s condition, advocating for personalized and complex interventions. He illustrates the application of the PDDM model with two case studies, demonstrating how it can help tailor interventions based on individual patient profiles, encompassing factors like cognitive-emotional states and social context. The masterclass stresses the importance of providing high-value, patient-centered care by integrating clinical practice guidelines and diagnostic frameworks such as the PDDM model to better address the specific needs of patients with low back pain. The ultimate goal is to improve treatment outcomes by offering the right intervention to the right patient at the right time.

Canadian researcher Yannick Tousignant-Laflamme is a professor at the School of Rehabilitation at the University of Sherbrooke. His research activities target the management of chronic pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly low back pain.