Pain physiotherapy

What Do Pain Physiotherapists Do?

Pain physiotherapists specialize in understanding and treating people with chronic pain. While classical physiotherapy primarily addresses biomechanical and sensorimotor issues, pain physiotherapists integrate the biopsychosocial model in greater depth. In doing so, they take into account the individual factors that contribute to the development and persistence of pain.

Pain physiotherapists work with patients to develop a comprehensive understanding of their condition, enabling them to make well informed decisions. Building on this, the aim is to improve function, enhance quality of life, and help patients manage and reduce pain.

Competencies of Pain Physiotherapists Include:

Knowledge

Pain physiotherapists apply current, pain specific and well founded knowledge in neurophysiology and neuropsychology. They also draw on a deep understanding of different types of pain and work scientifically and on an evidence based basis.

Assessment

Through structured interviewing and specific diagnostic procedures, a comprehensive picture of the patient is captured. In the subsequent clinical reasoning process, hypotheses are formed and weighted. Based on this, goals are defined together.

Therapy

In therapy, specific techniques are applied in a multimodal way, including:

• Education on relevant topics
• Graded movement therapy
• Complementary physical measures
• Behavioral therapy approaches
• Biofeedback
• Body based therapeutic measures
• Mindfulness based approaches
• Adapted training therapy

Throughout, patients remain at the center, with their individual expectations, needs and goals guiding the process. In addition to promoting active self management, the aim is to help patients return early and appropriately to functional activities that are meaningful to them. In this process, pain physiotherapists are able to assess when interdisciplinary therapy is indicated and communicate this appropriately to patients and other healthcare professionals. Within this multi/interprofessional team, they actively communicate with other healthcare professionals to enable optimal therapy.

Text: Alexandra Litzenburger. Special Interest Group (SIG) Pain Physiotherapy of the Swiss Pain Society (SPS).

‍