Genetics, tissue pathology, and inflammation.
For the physiotherapist, managing pain requires a blend of technical skill and deep empathy. By identifying the specific mechanism of pain and addressing the broader biopsychosocial context, clinicians can move patients away from a cycle of chronic disability and toward a path of resilient, long-term recovery.
Beliefs about pain (kinesiophobia), catastrophizing, and stress levels. Mechanisms and Management of Pain for the Physi...
Exercise is the gold standard for pain management. Through "graded exposure," therapists help patients gradually return to feared activities, desensitizing the nervous system and strengthening tissues.
Physiotherapeutic management focuses on restoring function and self-efficacy rather than just "fixing" a structure. Genetics, tissue pathology, and inflammation
Modern physiotherapy has shifted from the traditional biomedical model—which assumes a direct correlation between tissue damage and pain intensity—to the . This framework recognizes that a patient’s experience is influenced by:
This results from a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. Patients often describe "electric," "burning," or "shooting" sensations, frequently accompanied by sensory loss or hypersensitivity (e.g., sciatica or carpal tunnel syndrome). The Biopsychosocial Framework
This relatively new category describes pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage. This involves "central sensitization," where the nervous system stays in a persistent state of high reactivity (e.g., fibromyalgia or non-specific chronic low back pain). The Biopsychosocial Framework