Chronic Pain Management in Physical Therapy

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Questions and Answers

What is a critical role of physical therapists in managing chronic pain?

Administering electrotherapy

Conducting psychological therapy

Restoring optimal physical function to promote quality of life (correct)

Providing medical management

What is the primary goal of pain management, especially for chronic pain conditions?

Reducing pain through medication

Eliminating pain completely

Treating the underlying cause of pain

Improving patient function and quality of life (correct)

What is the purpose of the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm?

To learn about the endogenous pain inhibition ability of the subject (correct)

To inhibit pain through the application of another pain

To develop new spinal manipulation techniques

To study the placebo effect in pain modulation

What is emphasized in physical therapy treatments for chronic pain?

Improving patient function and quality of life Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the multidisciplinary approach to managing pain?

Medical management, physical therapy, and psychological management Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for all treatment plans in managing pain?

Basic science and clinical evidence Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that influences the effectiveness of a treatment technique in physical therapy?

The delivery of the treatment technique by the therapist Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the phenomenon where patients experience greater pain relief when they are aware of receiving medication?

Placebo effect Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of instructing patients with a negative expectation in terms of pain thresholds?

Decrease in pain thresholds Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Open/Hidden design in studies on medication?

To test the effect of patient awareness on pain relief Signup and view all the answers

What benefit can exercising provide to people with chronic pain?

Improved function and reduced pain Signup and view all the answers

Why might some healthcare professionals recommend activity restriction for low back pain?

They have a biomedical treatment approach Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a painful intervention in a safe therapeutic experience on a patient's perception of pain?

It changes the way the patient views their pain Signup and view all the answers

What is an important consideration for people increasing their physical activity after experiencing pain?

Increasing activity level gradually Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a physical therapy intervention that can generate pain similar to that experienced in daily activities?

Mobilization of a painful spinal level Signup and view all the answers

What can physical therapists do to create a personalized exercise program for people in pain?

Combine different forms of exercise Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when people understand the concept that hurt does not equal harm?

They may be more likely to increase their physical activity Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential reason why people discontinue exercising despite benefits?

The reason is not specified Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physical Therapy for Chronic Pain

Restoration and promotion of optimal physical function to improve quality of life is a critical role for physical therapists in chronic pain management.
Interventions include manual therapy, electrotherapy, heat and cold therapy, and activity promotion.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Pain Management

Treatment of pain involves a multidisciplinary approach, including medical management, physical therapy, and psychological management.
Goals for pain management include the patient as an active participant, emphasizing improved function rather than impairment.

Central Pain Modulation (CPM)

CPM is a paradigm used to study the endogenous pain inhibition ability of a subject.
The context is “pain inhibits pain”, but the purpose is not to inhibit pain per se, but to learn about the inhibition ability.

Expectation and Pain Relief

Studies using the Open/Hidden design have shown that patients experience significantly greater pain relief when they are aware of receiving a medication than when it is provided in a hidden manner.
Expectation may be additive to the specific effects of treatment, enhancing the magnitude of observed outcomes.

Contextual Pain Experience

Generating similar pain in a safe therapeutic experience can change the way a patient views their pain.
This can be achieved through interventions such as mobilization of a painful spinal level or performance of a stretching exercise.

Exercise and Pain Outcomes

Participating in physical activity and incorporating specific exercises improves pain outcomes in many pain conditions.
Exercise prescription varies with each pain condition, but increasing physical activity (e.g., walking) benefits the majority of people with chronic pain.
Physical therapists may combine different forms of exercise to individualize a program to the person in pain.

Benefits and Challenges of Exercise

Exercise can reduce pain and disability, improve function, prevent the recurrence of pain, and prevent the development of chronic pain.
Many people discontinue exercise despite receiving benefits, highlighting the need for a biopsychosocial approach to exercise prescription.
Understanding that hurt does not equal harm can help patients gradually increase their activity or exercise level.

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Description

This quiz covers the role of physical therapists in managing chronic pain, including restoration of physical function, manual therapy, and other interventions. It also explores the multidisciplinary approach to pain management, involving medical, physical, and psychological management.