Entry requirements

* Passed results of Physiology, 9 credits and Basic anatomy on the nervous system.

* 52.5 passed credits

* All oral, written and practical examinations in physiotherapy from earlier semesters must be passed

* If the examination consists of a report, this should be submitted before end of the actual semester and must be approved at the latest the following semester

Learning outcomes

The course is directed towards basic knowledge in physiology related to pain and stress.

The course in basic pain physiology aims to achieve skills, based on knowledge in pain- and stressphysiology, to prevent pain, counter people with pain in clinical work, analyse and classify pain and treat pain from an evidence-based perspective.

After completed course, the student should be able to:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

1. Account for basic terminology

2. Explain origin and modulation of pain from a physiological perspective

3. Explain modes of action for common forms of physical pain treatment

4. Account for pharmacological treatment principles at various types of pain conditions

5. Account for the concept of stress and explain how stress can influence basic physiological functions and pain experiences

SKILLS AND ABILITY

6. Classify a given pain condition and explain the choice based on knowledge in pain physiology and known clinical findings

7. Be able to apply principles of pain analysis and pain measurement

8. Choose and explain choice of physical treatment strategies in different pain conditions

EVALUATION ABILITY AND ATTITUDES

9. Reflect on individual variations in experienced pain such as effect of sex, age and psychological factors

Content

- Definition of important concepts

- Pain epidemiology

- Pain in children and elderly

- Sex - and gender aspects on pain

- The anatomy and physiology of pain from periphery to the brain.

- Classification of pain: acute and chronic pain, nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, pain of unclear cause, psychogenic pain.

- Pain modulation in different levels in the nervous system: peripheral pain modulation, segmental pain modulation, descending pain modulating systems including diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC)

- Placebo and nocebo

- Pain analysis and pain measurement

- Physical treatment methods such as physical training, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), heat, cold, acupuncture, laser and massage

- Pharmacological pain treatments such as acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), local anaesthetics, antidepressants, anti-convulsants and corticosteroids.

- Basic stress physiology: autonomous and endocrine responses at stress and the relation between stress response and pain

Instruction

The teaching is based on lectures, group assignment and seminars. The case seminar, based on a patient case, aims at gaining knowledge in planning an assessment, at clinical judgement and classification of a pain condition and suggestion of an adequate physical treatment strategy based on physiological mechanisms.

The FASS-seminar aims at gathering basic knowledge in pain pharmacology and in using FASS.

In addition to this, the student is expected to acquire a large part of the knowledge through theoretical self-studies.

Assessment

Passing the course requires:

Passed written examination that examines aims 1 - 8. Satisfactorily approved assessment criteria in the Case seminar that examines aims 6 - 9. Satisfactorily approved assessment criteria in the FASS seminar that examines aims 1 and 4.

Students who have not passed the examination have a right to attend 4 additional examinations (i.e. 5 examinations in total). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee may admit additional examinations. Every time the student participates in an examination counts. Submission of so called blank exam is counted as an examination.