Written for Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant Students

Written by four world-renowned physical therapists/pain science experts, this medical neuroscience book is written for PT and PTA students and is based on current guidelines for PT school curriculums. Readers will learn about the causes of pain and how to effectively treat it. The book includes a background of the neuroscience of pain, psychosocial aspects of pain, pain management guidelines and strategies for treating pain, details on drugs to help treat pain, information about special populations, and much more. Available in paperback and eBook.

Based on Guidelines for PT School Curriculums

This textbook and clinical guide provides a foundation for physical therapists and physical therapy assistant students to learn about pain and provides the tools to help them be part of the solution to this global epidemic.

Chapters include:

  • Pain
  • The Neuroscience of Pain
  • Psychological Aspects of Pain
  • Clinical Reasoning of Pain Mechanisms
  • Physical Therapy Assessment of Pain
  • Treating Pain
  • Treating Pain: Education
  • Treating Pain: Movement
  • Treating Pain: Calming the Nervous System
  • Interprofessional Treatment of Pain
  • Pharmacology and Pain
  • Special Health Conditions, Diagnoses, Populations, and Clinical Setting Considerations

Understanding, Evaluating, and Treating Pain in this video featuring Adriaan Louw, PT, PHD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKN6p2JUk8k

Visual Guide with Valuable Insights

This essential text teaches PT and PTA students about the causes of pain and how to treat it, providing a foundation for PT and PTA students the tools to help them be part of the solution to this global epidemic.

Covers the following topics:

  • Must-know information about the history of pain
  • The current neuroscience of pain based on the latest research
  • The biopsychosocial aspects of pain
  • How to effectively assess patients

About the Authors

Adriaan Louw, PT, PhD

Adriaan has taught throughout the US and internationally for 20 years at numerous national and international manual therapy, pain science and medical conferences. He is a Certified Spinal Manual Therapist, Therapeutic Pain Specialist and has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, books and book chapters related to spinal disorders and pain science. He is the Director of the Therapeutic Neuroscience Research Group – an independent collaborative initiative studying pain neuroscience and is the Program Director of the Therapeutic Pain Specialist and Pain Science Fellowship post-graduate program for Evidence in Motion.

The Why You Hurt Series

Adriaan Louw has created a series of tools that work together seamlessly, whether you’re a clinician who wants to understand pain education and how to teach your patients, or someone with chronic pain who is looking for help.

Emilio Puentedura, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, GDMT, FAAOMPT

Emilio, who is also knowns as “Louie,” has been involved in orthopedic manual therapy and neurodynamics for more than 39 years, working in outpatient settings with a focus on spinal conditions, and presenting seminars on the various approaches to manipulative therapy. Following a long tenure at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he is now Clinical Professor of Baylor University’s DPT program.

Stephen Schmidt, PT, MPhysio, OCS, FAAOMPT

Steve is a physical therapist with more than 25 years of experience treating patients with persistent pain, neurological disorders and musculoskeletal problems. He is a faculty member for the Kaiser Vallejo PNF program, a senior faculty member for the International Spine and Pain Institute and has taught numerous national and international seminars on pain neuroscience education.

Kory Zimney, PT, DPT

Kory has been a physical therapist for more than 25 years, working primarily in orthopedics. He is currently director of the PhD in Health Sciences program and an associate professor in the Health Science Physical Therapy Department at the University of South Dakota where he is part of several groups that conduct research on pain neuroscience education and therapeutic alliance.

From the Back Cover

Persistent pain affects millions of people worldwide, creating an enormous economic burden, diminishing quality of life, and contributing to the opioid epidemic. Physical therapists are in the ideal position to play an important role in addressing the problem by incorporating pain treatment into their practice. Based on the current guidelines for PT school curriculums, this book provides a foundation for PT and PTA students to learn about pain. It is the culmination of decades of research, study, and practical experience from four world-renowned physical therapists/pain science experts. This essential text covers must-know information about the history of pain, the current neuroscience of pain based on the latest research, the biopsychosocial aspects of pain, how to effectively assess patients, and most importantly, how to treat pain. Current PT and PTA students will gain a deep understanding of the pain epidemic, the knowledge to shed light on the problem, and the tools to be part of the solution.