Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Approach to Pain

A physical medicine and rehabilitation approach to acute and chronic pain syndromes includes a wide spectrum of treatment focus. Management includes an assessment and treatment model based on a biopsychosocial approach. Assessment includes a focus on pain behaviors, posture, muscle imbalances, and gait impairments. Effective treatment programs rely on appropriate and realistic goal setting. Treatment options may include physical therapy, polypharmacy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and passive modalities. Treatment goals emphasize achieving analgesia, improving psychosocial functioning, and reintegration of recreational or leisure pursuits. More complicated multidimensional chronic pain conditions may require a more collaborative continuum of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary treatment approaches. Progress in all therapies necessitates close monitoring by the health care provider and ongoing communication between members of the treatment team.