Pain Management Resources

The following resources are ones we, as physiotherapists, commonly recommend to clients to help them manage their pain. These relate primarily to chronic pain, which is ongoing or longstanding or recurrent. They are useful whether or not you have been diagnosed with a “condition” (eg. disc bulge, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis). They are particularly useful when other forms of management, especially hands-on or “passive” treatment, have not been successful in resolving your pain.

The “best evidence” in the research into chronic pain tells us that “active” forms of treatment work best. This means a suitable form of exercise, which could include Clinical Pilates, gym programmes, therapeutic yoga and/or aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming and cycling. It also means being proactive with self-management strategies, which involves identifying and addressing factors, unique to you, that may contribute to your pain.

These groups are two of the most up-to-date and internationally renowned in pain and pain management research.  Both groups are Australian, the first being West Australian.

painHEALTH: www.painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au
(sections “Management” and “Stories” are particularly helpful)

NOI Group: www.noigroup.com/en/resources

The NOI group also has several associated books (and even an app!) for the self-management of pain. 

The websites themselves are very informative, using multimedia including videos and imagery to “explain pain”.