Pain Sensitivity
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UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF PAIN SENSITIVITY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Presenter: Beales D
Clinically, level of pain sensitivity is a recognisable feature of any patients’
presentation. However, there is contrasting evidence as to how much
increased pain sensitivity relates to the experience of pain itself and
associated disability. The contrasting evidence is reflected in confusion
amongst health care practitioners in relation to the clinical significance of
increased pain sensitivity, and how to consider increased pain sensitivity
within the development of individualised management programs. This
presentation aims to provide guidance for clinicians in integrating the
concept of pain sensitivity into clinical practice including:
• Clinical meaning of pain sensitivity research performed at Curtin
University at the population level will be highlighted. We have completed
pain sensitivity profiling in 23 year olds of the Western Australian
Pregnancy Cohort ‘Raine’ Study. Specific investigations include HPA-axis
functional as a predictor of pain sensitivity/musculoskeletal pain, and
pain sensitivity in menstrual pain.
• Clinical meaning of pain sensitivity research performed at Curtin
University in specific clinical cohorts will be highlighted. This will include
discussion of clusters of pain sensitivity in chronic low back pain, and pain
sensitivity in pregnancy related lumbopelvic pain.
• A biopsychosocial framework for assessing pain sensitivity with
be discussed.
• Potential strategies for management of pain sensitivity will be presented,
along with strategies that are not useful.
Key Practice Points:
• Participants will have enhanced understanding of potential causes of
increased pain sensitivity from a biopsychosocial perspective.
• Participants will have increased understanding of specific assessment for
increased pain sensitivity in the clinic.
• Participant will understand what aspects of clinical practice may be unuseful
in the management of increased pain sensitivity.
• Participants will enhance their clinical reasoning process for managing
increased pain sensitivity.
CPD Points: 0.25
