Pain curriculum for graduation in Physiotherapy in Brazil / Currículo em dor para graduação em Fisioterapia no Brasil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To introduce the curriculum in Pain for Graduation in Physiotherapy, suggesting its use for academic training in Brazil. CONTENTS: Considering that physiotherapists should be prepared to engage in the health care professional team assisting patients with different kinds of pain understanding the role of each professional, a group of physiotherapists with academic and clinical experience in pain treatment has developed, after consensus, this curriculum of pain for physiotherapy, which highlights the role of this professional in the health care team and the development of a therapeutic relationship with patients, favoring patients' autonomy and education, as well as the strategies for pain evaluation and management. CONCLUSION: The specific content of this pain curriculum can be integrated into different programs/courses, using the most adequate structure and educational method with regard to professional needs and their demands. Physical therapy, pain and models of academic training in health are discussed.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Apresentar e divulgar o currículo em dor para graduação em Fisioterapia, sugerindo sua utilização para formação acadêmica no Brasil. CONTEÚDO: Considerando que o fisioterapeuta deve ser preparado para integrar a equipe profissional de cuidados de pacientes com diferentes tipos de dor, compreendendo a atuação de cada profissional, um grupo de fisioterapeutas com experiência acadêmica e clínica no tratamento da dor elaborou, após consenso, o currículo nuclear de dor para fisioterapia, o qual destaca o papel desse profissional na equipe e na construção de uma relação terapêutica com os pacientes, favorecendo autonomia e educação do paciente, além das estratégias para avaliação e manuseio da dor. CONCLUSÃO: O conteúdo específico deste currículo de dor pode ser integrado em diferentes programas/cursos, usando a estrutura e o método educacional mais adequado no que tange às necessidades profissionais locais e as suas demandas. Discute-se a fisioterapia, a dor e modelos de formação acadêmica em saúde.

Psychological distress and quality of life in leprosy patients with neuropathic pain.

Leprosy is widely known because of progressive damage to the peripheral nerves. In spite of multidrug therapy, some patients develop chronic neuropathic pain after bacteriological cure. Chronic pain is associated with psychological distress and is also an important predictor of poor quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess psychological distress in leprosy patients with chronic neuropathic pain, and its repercussions on their quality of life. The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised patients with chronic neuropathic pain after multidrug therapy. Neuropathic pain was confirmed by clinical examination and by the Douleur neuropathique en 4 questions questionnaire. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogic scale (VAS) ruler. The psychological health of the participants was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, and the WHOQOL-bref was used to assess quality of life. The mean pain intensity reported by participants on the VAS was 7.1 cm (SD = 2.9). No differences in pain intensity with respect to gender were observed. Psychological distress was present in 76.2% of participants, being higher in those with Grade 2 of disability. Patients with psychological distress had the lowest mean scores in all domains of the WHOQOL-bref. The lowest mean scores according to domain were physical (9.9; SD = 3.3), followed by environment (11.9; SD = 3.0), psychological (13.5; SD = 2.6) and social relations (14.0; SD = 3.7). In conclusion, our study identified the presence of psychological distress in most of the participants. Patients with chronic neuropathic pain who were also found to have high psychological distress levels had higher pain intensity and a poorer quality of life.

Quality of life and its domains in leprosy patients after neurolysis: a study using WHOQOL-BREF.

Surgical nerve decompression in leprosy is indicated to prevent or treat nerve damage, and to improve sensory motor function and quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to describe QoL of leprosy patients after surgical nerve decompression. Participants who underwent neurolysis in the last 5 years were recruited. The assessment consisted of collecting demographic and clinical information, QoL and its domain scores. Descriptive statistical analysis of demographic and clinical data was presented. Included 33 patients (43 +/- 11.0 years) who had neurolysis with a total of 61 nerves operated. The results of WHOQOL-bref showed that overall QoL mean was 11.2 (+/- 3.63) and domains scored as follow: physical (11.0 +/- 3.56), environment (11.47 +/- 2.11), psychological (13.29 +/- 2.79) and social relations (15.03 +/- 3.66). Measures of QoL should become part of the standard battery of tools used to assess health and well-being and it may contribute to identifying patients' needs in rehabilitation.

Chronic pain in leprosy: new aspects to be considered.

Leprosy is still considered to be endemic in several developing countries, such as India and Brazil. Infection with Mycobacterium leprae leads to chronic granulomatous inflammation in skin and peripheral nerves that can lead to sensory, motor and autonomic impairments. Since the disease causes severe sensory loss, little attention has been given to pain in leprosy. However, chronic pain in leprosy is being increasingly recognized as an important late complication of leprosy. This article discusses the assessment of pain in leprosy and suggests factors that can contribute to the chronicity. We also consider pain as a multiple system output, bringing the possibility of new treatment options for chronic pain in leprosy.

Mecanismos de ação e efeitos da fisioterapia no tratamento da dor / Physical therapy action mechanisms and effects on pain management

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A fisioterapia vem ao longo dos anos mostrando um importante papel no tratamento de pacientes com dor. Diversos mecanismos neurofisiológicos já foram propostos para explicar a modulação da dor por meio de abordagens físicas e cognitivas comportamentais, porém necessitam ser mais bem explorados pelo fisioterapeuta. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar os principais mecanismos de ação e efeitos das técnicas fisioterapêuticas para o tratamento da dor. CONTEÚDO: Estudos refletem sobre os mecanismos de ação e efeitos da fisioterapia durante as etapas de processamento da dor no sistema nervoso. Para organizar as informações, os mecanismos e teorias foram agrupados em estações periféricas e centrais. Já os efeitos foram agrupados nos sistemas motor, simpático e hormonal, efeitos psicofisiológicos e placebo. CONCLUSÃO: Diversos mecanismos e efeitos podem ser influenciados pelas técnicas físicas e cognitivas comportamentais da fisioterapia, contribuindo para o tratamento de pacientes com dor e facilitando a escolha das técnicas com base nos mecanismos clínicos identificados.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Along time, physical therapy has played an important role in the treatment of painful patients. Several neurophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain pain modulation via physical and cognitive behavioral approaches; however they have to be further explored by the physical therapist. This study aimed at reviewing major action mechanisms and effects of physical therapy techniques to manage pain. CONTENTS: There are studies on the action mechanisms and effects of physical therapy during pain processing stages in the nervous system. To organize information, mechanisms and theories were grouped in peripheral and central stations. Effects, however, were grouped in motor, sympathetic and hormonal systems, psychophysiological factors and placebo. CONCLUSION: Several mechanisms and effects may be influenced by physical therapy physical and cognitive behavioral techniques, thus contributing to the treatment of painful patients and helping the choice of techniques based on identified clinical mechanisms.