Pain Management

What Is Pain Management?

Pain management in pediatric physical therapy involves the assessment and treatment of acute or chronic pain to restore function, promote mobility, and improve quality of life.

  • It incorporates a biopsychosocial approach, addressing physical, emotional, and behavioral components of pain.
  • Can involve various strategies including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, modalities, and pain education.

What Does Difficulty In This Area Look Like?

  • Guarded or Compensatory Movement Patterns
    A child may avoid using a painful limb or alter movement to protect the area, leading to secondary impairments.
  • Reduced Participation in Activities
    Avoidance of play, sports, or daily tasks due to pain or fear of increased pain.
  • Decreased Range of Motion and Strength
    Disuse or muscle inhibition associated with pain can limit function and prolong recovery.
  • Sensory Sensitivities
    Hypersensitivity to touch, movement, or pressure may be present in conditions like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
  • Behavioral and Emotional Responses
    Irritability, fear-avoidance behaviors, or anxiety related to movement or therapy sessions.

How Can PT Help With Pain Management?

  • Therapeutic Exercise and Graded Exposure
    Gradual reintroduction of movement to improve strength, flexibility, and confidence while reducing fear and pain.
  • Manual Therapy Techniques
    Soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, or myofascial release to address muscle guarding and improve mobility.
  • Neuromuscular Re-education
    Helps restore normal movement patterns and reduce compensatory strategies that may perpetuate pain.
  • Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
    Teaching children and families about the science of pain to decrease fear and promote understanding of safe movement.
  • Sensory Desensitization Strategies
    Graded tactile input and proprioceptive activities to reduce hypersensitivity.
  • Modalities (if age-appropriate)
    Use of heat, cold, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), or kinesiology taping for symptom relief.
  • Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
    Incorporation of diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, or mindfulness to manage pain-related stress responses.
  • Family and Caregiver Training
    Equipping caregivers with tools to support daily movement, reduce pain behaviors, and reinforce strategies at home.