It’s hard work researching teamwork

After writing about teams and models and the distinct possibility of talking past each other, I had a very quick search for a paper on teamwork and models this morning, and came across this one by a group of Canadian researchers. It is, like many of these pieces of research into the messy and [...]

On coercion and ethics

NB: this post is opinionated.  It represents my own opinions and not those of my employer, my colleagues, my family or my dog.  It’s mine all mine.
If there is something that gets me really riled up, it’s bullying.  Maybe I had too much bullying when I was a kid, maybe I just believe in [...]

Chronic pain after surgery

Surgery is supposed to hurt. Well maybe not ’supposed’ to, but most people expect some pain after surgery – as one doctor said to me, it’s really ‘planned trauma’. The problem for some people is that the pain doesn’t settle afterwards – and up to 50% of people undergoing surgery can fail to [...]

The myth of core stability: part 2

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Following on from yesterday’s post about core stability, today I want to look at training, back pain prevention and rehabilitation as it relates to core stability.
Motor learning moves from conscious attention to make certain movements through to movements that are basically over-learned or automatic. There are considerable differences in how a beginning [...]

The myth of core stability

Editor’s Selection IconFads come and fads go, and no more so than in managing back pain. One of the more durable fads has been the plethora of exercises to ’strengthen the core’. I’ve been searching for a good review of the literature on core stability, and surprisingly found one in a journal I [...]

Real world outcomes still matter: why medical and psychological is not enough in pain management

NB: The following rant does not reflect the opinions of my employers, colleagues, family or pets! It is MY opinion!
I feel rather weary today, having come to a realisation that although pain management as a field of work has become much more recognised, there are some serious differences of opinion around approach and priorities between [...]

Safety behaviours – do they maintain kinesiophobia?

Let me start by saying this post is conjecture, but based both on observing patients, and after reading an interesting paper on ’subtle avoidance and safety behaviours relevant to social anxiety’.
First some definitions: I hope you’re all familiar with the term ‘kinesiophobia’, or ‘fear of movement’ – it’s the fear and avoidance of movements that [...]

Functional capacity evaluations – my take on them!

Functional capacity evaluations
There are many forms of functional assessment available.  These range from a series of structured activities carried out in the home or work environment over a period of days or weeks to those that are carried out in a very precise manner in a clinic and often under the supervision of an occupational [...]

It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it?

I have a bit of a theme happening – health care interactions. I think it’s because this week I’ve been talking about this with patients, and it seems to be something that either raises the hackles or fills them with gratitude! Anyway, I was glad to find this paper the other day on [...]

Seeing people progress

A quick post this morning before I search for some Friday funnies!
I saw a few patients this week after having had just over a fortnight off work – and you know how sometimes working in pain management can seem unrewarding, progress can be incredibly slow, one step forward, two sideways… Well here are some progress [...]