iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, fun #social activity management + #sleep training + #stress management = focus of this year’s (3rd yr in a row) incompany training for Melius Fysiotherapie & Pain Care, the Netherlands. A highly passionate team under the inspiring leadership of Freek Weijers.

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Dear Bksy Friends, overlapping #comorbidities in chronic low #back #pain and other chronic pain disorders: is low-grade #inflammation the link?

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, unravelling the #physiology, assessment, & #management of chronic #pain through South African stories – fantastic open access book to learn from leading experts: openbooks.uct.ac.za/uct/catalog/...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, disease-associated #epigenetic changes influence pathways related to #inflammation, #nociceptive signaling & central #sensitization, thereby contributing to #pain susceptibility and maintenance: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/YJN2X...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, low value care continues to impede the delivery of safe, efficient, and cost-effective #health care link.springer.com/article/10.1..., also in patients with chronic low #back & #neck #pain.

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, UK Biobank study (n=55,721) shows that #diet quality emphasizing anti-inflammatory & healthy #whole-food components relates with lower odds of chronic #pain. Open access: www.jpain.org/article/S152...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, Pain in Motion & PijnWijzer Vrije Universiteit Brussel awarded the Social Impact in Pain Science Award to Prof Lorimer Moseley @adelaideuni.bsky.social for his outstanding contribution to improving freedom, equality & solidarity – the humanistic values of VUB - 4 people with pain

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, an integrated systemic approach to chronic primary #pain: from #epigenome to #brain. Open access until August 1: authors.elsevier.com/a/1nFu41dCE0... @bjajournals.bsky.social

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, a conceptual framework 4 #diabetes-related musculoskeletal #pain, incl. metabolic alterations (e.g., inflammation, advanced glycation end-products) & their contributions to neuropathic & musculoskeletal complications - open access: www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, recognizing & treating #circadian rhythm disruption in chronic #pain during 2-day in-company training 4 interdisciplinary & very passionate team of #expert pain clinicians @realhealth.bsky.social @maartenskliniek Berg en dal, the Netherlands www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, integrating #motivational interviewing with #pain science #education into the multimodal #lifestyle approach 4 chronic pain: today during 3-day course in Bucharest, Romania. Superbly hosted by stepbystep.education. Free manual here: academic.oup.com/ptj/article/...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, we cannot share this enough: all well-informed people would likely not want #interventional procedures for chronic #neck or #back pain. Unfortunately, many national health insurances continue to reimburse these ineffective treatments. www.bmj.com/content/388/...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, prevention of #frailty & unintentional weight loss + adoption of vigorous #exercise + #smoking-cessation for knee- & hip #osteoarthritis? Open access: authors.elsevier.com/c/1ms3X8nLVi...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, #lifestyle interventions as #immunotherapy 2.0 – wonderful to see >120 #oncology clinicians passionate to join evening webinar brilliantly hosted by @FyNeOn Fysiotherapie Netwerk Oncologie, the Netherlands

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, the paradigm shift towards multimodal #lifestyle interventions for chronic #musculoskeletal #pain: inspiring to see >300 clinicians following a webinar superbly organized by Physiopark Academy & OTH Regensburg & #German Association for Physiotherapy👏👏.

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, towards #immunotherapy for chronic #pain: the interplay between #lifestyle factors & #immune exhaustion or senescence tinyurl.com/z2d3btss. Open access! #sleep #diet #stress #exercise

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, trained in the Pain in Motion group @vubrussel.bsky.social & now in a tenured position in another university: wonderful the see how many of them taking pivotal roles! 👏👏

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, fun & stimulating teaching weekend wth @paulvanwilgen on #pain science applied to #headache, #neck pain, #whiplash, #migraine in the Maxillofacial Physiotherapy Postgraduate, Universitat Ramon Llull , #Barcelona. Grateful to @fisioterapiareset 4 perfect organization & translation!

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, how we optimize #sleep health in people having persistent pain in pijnpraxis.be interdisciplinary practice 4 #pain management in #Leopoldsburg: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Dear Bsky Friends, the best New Year’s Resolution: the #planetary health #diet 2025 EAT–Lancet Commission. Robust updated #evidence reinforces a strong association with ↗️ #health outcomes, large ↘️ #mortality + substantial ↘️ incidence chronic diseases. doi.org/10.1016/S014...

Lancet 2025; 406: 1625–700. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01201-2

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, #gut & oral #microbiota-derived metabolites regulating peripheral & central #sensitization through neural, immune & endocrine pathways in #chronic #pain: mechanisms, treatment opportunities & research agenda: Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 114; doi.org/10.3390/ijms...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, not all #fibromyalgia is pure #nociplastic pain: international, #multidisciplinary recommendations for #pain #phenotyping incl. case studies: gold open access www.painphysicianjournal.com/current/pdf?...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, time to integrate #oral & #gastrointestinal health in chronic #pain management. Gold open access 🔓: tinyurl.com/umjjacyf

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Dear Blsky Friends, illustrating how #non-responders to #exercise therapy can be treated successfully by applying the Belgian evidence-based treatment #guideline for chronic primary #pain, today during my keynote @ 5th Saudi International Physiotherapy Conference www.worel.be/worel/docume...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Dear BskyFriends, chronic widespread #pain is significantly associated with an elevated risk of #cognitive impairment & #dementia, mediated by structural #brain changes and systemic #inflammation: journals.lww.com/anesthesiolo... @anesthesiology.bsky.social @vubrussel.bsky.social

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, the only #pain congress in the #world dedicated to early career researchers is accepting abstract submissions. Looking forward in meeting you in Brussels late May 2026! www.painscienceinmotion.com

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, call to PTs to lead the physiotherapy #evolution towards multimodal #lifestyle interventions 4 chronic #pain – today during keynote @Australian Physiotherapy Association conference in Adelaide #APASC25

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Dear Blsky Friends, 13 strategies to address barriers to implementing #sleep training within #physiotherapy practice 4 chronic #pain. Top priority strategies focus on #education & #training of PTs, structural changes & raising awareness. Spread the word! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, #shoulder pain phenotyping: a practical guide for clinicians to determine predominant nociceptive, #neuropathic, or #nociplastic shoulder #pain incl. three case presentations. Open access until Oct 15: authors.elsevier.com/c/1lg2i51N1w...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

‘I’ve conquered the #cancer, yet continue to suffer from #pain and #fatigue. It feels so unfair…’ Time to take perceived #injustice into account when treating cancer #survivors! link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, more #neuroinflammation in primary sensory & motor cortex in nociplastic vs. nociceptive low back #pain, with neuroinflammation related with clinical features of #nociplastic pain (remote sensory sensitivity, poor #sleep): onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, breakthrough: finally a treatment that works for patients with chronic #pain following #whiplash! Cost-effective treatment + reduced disability & symptoms immediately after treatment + at 1y follow-up. Open access: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Dear Blsky Friends, What you eat is how you sleep: A balanced diet rich in plant-based foods enhances the production of sleep-regulating metabolites such as melatonin, GABA & serotonin – no need to supplement! tinyurl.com/2pbv75z6

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, physical activity as a central pillar of #lifestyle modification in the management of chronic #musculoskeletal #pain & its effects on pain modulation & #sleep, #stress regulation, #diet & #smoking behavior: tinyurl.com/2ntkuda3

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, Hazel Jenkins, Chris Maher, Mark Hancock et al. raising the bar for low back pain research to long-term (1–2 years) & very long-term (≥2 years) follow-up www.thelancet.com/journals/lan..., ft. our invited @thelancetrheum.bsky.social commentary www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, #interprofessional #collaboration recommendations: the final part of the Belgian guideline on Multimodal Management of Chronic Primary #Pain in Primary Care, available 4 free in English, French & Dutch: www.worel.be/worel/docume...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, key evidence-based recommendations regarding non-pharmacological interventions from the #Belgian guideline on Multimodal Management of Chronic Primary #Pain, available 4 free in English, French & Dutch: www.worel.be/worel/docume...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, pushback of #pharmacological treatment in the #Belgian guideline on Multimodal Management of Chronic Primary #Pain, available 4 free in English, French & Dutch: www.worel.be/worel/docume...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, the #Belgian guideline on Multimodal Management of Chronic Primary #Pain is available 4 free in English, French & Dutch. Below part 1 of the guidelines’ recommendations: www.worel.be/worel/docume...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, why focusing (too much?) on pain phenotyping 4 precision #pain medicine when so many pain comorbidities are left untreated? #Insomnia, #overweight, #gut dysbiosis & #stress intolerance are treatable pain comorbidities! During keynote #ASEAPS2025 Singapore

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, wonderful to see neurologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and physios coming together to learn more about personalized multimodal #lifestyle #medicine 4 chronic #pain in our pre-congress course #ASEAPS2025 Singapore aseaps2025.org

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, a #paradigm shift from a tissue- & disease-based approach towards multimodal #lifestyle interventions 4 chronic #pain: the complete BJPT editorial series is now available: paininmotion.be/blog/detail/...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, #immune senescence or immune exhaustion? #Metabolic & immune dysfunctions can be interconnected in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic #Fatigue Syndrome (ME/#CFS): 🔓 tinyurl.com/5cac8nvr

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, 👏 to Wouter Van Bogaert 4 becoming the 3rd @PaininMotion @vubrussel.bsky.social Marie Sklodowska-Curie postdoc #ExcellenceInResearch. Interested in becoming a @MSCActions-fellow in our group? Contact the chairperson of the relevant research line: tinyurl.com/2b6v3pha

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, for people with #arthritis, #exercise & physical activity programs have only small effects on #fatigue & #sleep: tinyurl.com/fnf2ta94. We may need targeted sleep management for improving fatigue & sleep: academic.oup.com/ptj/article/...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, bridging the gap between diagnosis & oncological treatment by providing a holistic preparation for #surgery & postoperative #rehabilitation in breast #cancer patients: tinyurl.com/mvemuk89 @vubrussel.bsky.social

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, check out the 7 research lines of our Pain in Motion research group @vubrussel.bsky.social , incl. visions, short descriptions, chairpersons & publications: tinyurl.com/2b6v3pha

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Can PTs provide effective #sleep management to #neck & low #back pain patients? YES, WE CAN! Very large effects on insomnia severity, sleep quality, fatigue, depressive symptoms, etc. + improvement maintained at 1y. @JAMANetworkOpen Open access: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, thanks to @FWO, we're able to study impaired #glucose metabolism in chronic low #back #pain & are hiring 2 Dutch language PhD candidates @vubrussel.bsky.social & @KULeuven. This work builds on these p-o-c studies: link.springer.com/article/10.1... www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13...

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Jo Nijs @jonijsbe.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Dear Bsky Friends, linking #nutrition & chronic #pain in breast #cancer survivors: fantastic PhD work by Sevilay Tümkaya Yilmaz @VUBrussel based on the following research: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov?term=%28T%C3...

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