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Course Discription |
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This course provides physiotherapy students with a comprehensive, evidence-based foundation in the contemporary science and biopsychosocial management of chronic pain. Students will critically examine the evolution of pain theory, moving from early models to foundational frameworks such as the Gate Control Theory, and finally to modern, brain-centered paradigms, which explain pain in the absence of tissue damage. This theoretical grounding is linked to the underlying peripheral and central sensitization mechanisms that characterize chronicity. The curriculum equips students with practical skills to assess and manage a complex array of clinical conditions. This includes primary pain disorders like Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Myofascial Pain; neuropathic states such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and pain from central nervous system disorders; degenerative and inflammatory processes like Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis; and persistent pain secondary to trauma, including chronic low back/neck pain, burns, fractures, and spinal cord injuries. A dedicated focus is placed on pain in unique populations, including pediatric patients, post-surgical cases (e.g., spinal fusion), and individuals suffering from the profound psychological and physical sequelae of torture or war. Throughout, the course emphasizes the physiotherapist's vital role within a multidisciplinary team, applying a biopsychosocial lens to patient education, self-management strategies, and advanced interventions like Graded Motor Imagery to optimize rehabilitation outcomes for those living with chronic pain and disability. |