Background: Research has been conducted on pain neuroscience education (PNE) for the relief of pain and symptoms associated with chronic neck pain (CNP). Focusing on the neurophysiology and neurobiology of chronic pain, pain processing, and particularly the function of the central nervous system for chronic pain, PNE helps patients to understand the causes of pain.
Objectives: To investigate and systematically review interventional studies on the effectiveness of PNE for patients with CNP and to analyze the effect size by performing a meta-analysis.
Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Methods: The following databases and electronic collections will be searched for primary studies without time limits: PubMed, MEDLINE, OVID Embase, and CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library. Reference lists from identified studies will be manually hand-searched for additional relevant works. Patients 18 years of age and older with nonspecific neck pain lasting 3 months or longer will be included in the study, with exclusion criteria as follows: cancer pain, fractures of the spine or surgical intervention, cognitive impairment that does not allow the patient to follow the PNE program, pregnancy, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other related pathologies that may prevent full participation in the PNE program. There are no geographic restrictions; however, non- English studies will be excluded.
Discussion: This study aims to evaluate the effects of PNE on pain and disability in chronic neck pain. Its results will help clarify whether the use of PNE alone can improve chronic pain. The advantages of systematic reviews include clear definitions and inclusion and exclusion criteria, standardized search formats, and objective independent reviews.

INTRODUCTION
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

• Junghyun Choi(Department of Physical Therapy, Cheonan)
• Hojung An(Department of Physical Therapy, Dongnam Health University)
• Taeseok Choi(Sejong sports medicine center) Corresponding author