Chronic Pain Management

Objectives

The aim of this curricular unit is to provide students with a range of skills to assess and manage patients with musculoskeletal chronic pain and disability, under the broad framework of a biopsychosocial approach. At the end of this unit the student should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the biopsychosocial approach and chronic pain neurophysiology, and skills to assess and manage musculoskeletal chronic pain patients. Content includes the principles of the cognitive - behavioural approach, patient assessment with a particular emphasis on the psychosocial aspects of pain, patient's education and graded exercise, in a framework of collaborative clinical reasoning and patient centred care.

General characterization

Code

MF32

Credits

Responsible teacher

Doutora Rita Noélia Silva Fernandes

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese / English

Prerequisites

Bibliography

Butler DS (2000) The Sensitive Nervous System, Noigroup, Adelaide.

Butler DS & Moseley GL (2003) Explain Pain, NOI Publications, Adelaide.

Waddell G (1998) The Back Pain Revolution, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

Wall PD & Melzack R eds. (1999) Textbook of Pain, 4th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. Also 5^th edn 2005.

Main CJ & Spanswick CC (2000) Pain Management. An interdisciplinary approach, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

Gifford LS ed. (1998, 1999, 2002, 2006) Topical Issues in Pain, Nos 1-5 CNS Press, Falmouth.

Strong J et al (2002) Pain, A Textbook for Therapists, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

Teaching method

Teaching and learning strategies include: seminars, patient demonstrations, supervised practical sessions, oole-play, case studies and self-directed Learning.

Evaluation method

The assessment methods include a Patient Case Report focused on the management of a musculoskeletal chronic pain patient, or a group session with musculoskeletal chronic patients, limit to 2000 words (100%).

To complete this curricular unit the students must have a classification of a minimum of 50% in the assignment.

Subject matter

· Physiotherapy approach to musculoskeletal chronic pain: recommendations and results;

· Neurophysiology of pain: central sensitization; central pain mechanisms; neurobiological models (neuromatrix, pain mechanisms) and psychological models (fear-avoidance model). Clinical indicators of central pain;

· Clinical Cases Discussion - Assessment of Psychosocial Aspects;

· Principles of Patient Education and principles of cognitive - behavioural approach; Design of a patient education session;

· Principles of Exercise Prescription. Design of an exercise session;

· Simulation of Patient Sessions (Education and Exercise);

· Outcome measures for musculoskeletal chronic pain patients.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught:

Master in Physiotherapy Muscle Skeletal Conditions