ADN: Pain Phenotypes in Clinical Practice: From Recognition to Rehabilitation
ADN: Pain Phenotypes in Clinical Practice: From Recognition to Rehabilitation
1 hour
Description
Pain is one of the primary reasons people seek physiotherapy services. Nevertheless, many physiotherapists report limited education and confidence in assessing and managing chronic pain. Three principal pain mechanisms are recognized in contemporary pain science: nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain. Recent literature suggests that these mechanisms can coexist within the same condition, producing mixed or overlapping pain presentations. This overlap can make it challenging for physiotherapists to understand a patient’s pain experience, identify the predominant contributing mechanisms, and select an appropriate rehabilitation approach. Physiotherapists may focus on treating an isolated pain mechanism or presumed anatomical source without considering the patient’s broader pain phenotype—the combination of clinical characteristics that shapes how pain is experienced and expressed. This 45-minute presentation will help physiotherapists distinguish among the principal pain phenotypes, recognize mixed presentations, and use phenotype-informed clinical reasoning to develop individualized rehabilitation plans.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Define a pain phenotype and explain its relevance to physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation.
- Differentiate nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic pain presentations in clinical practice.
- Recognize mixed pain presentations in which multiple pain mechanisms coexist.
- Apply phenotype-informed clinical reasoning to develop individualized rehabilitation strategies.
Speaker Bio
Rodrigo Deamo Assis PT, PhD.
Rodrigo is a physiotherapist with a PhD in Neurology from the Federal University of São Paulo (Brazil), completed in collaboration with the University of Alabama. He subsequently completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard Medical School (Neurology) and Université Laval (Rehabilitation). He holds certificates in chronic pain management from McGill University and Université de Montréal, as well as a certificate in medicolegal assessment from Université de Montréal. Since 2014, he has worked at the regional pain clinic of Santé Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where he serves as a team leader, clinician, and researcher specializing in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation for chronic pain. He has also collaborated with the Québec government on pain science education initiatives, including the development of clinical algorithms for chronic pain conditions. His research interests include improving the clinical assessment of pain phenotypes and central sensitization and advancing the application of non-invasive brain stimulation in chronic pain management. He currently serves as Chair of the Pain Science Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
Registration
- Free for CPA and Acupuncture and Dry Needling Members
- $10 for Non-CPA Members
The instructors
The Acupuncture Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association supports physiotherapists and physiotherapist assistants in advancing the use of acupuncture as an established core competency in physiotherapy clinical practice.
Vision
To promote acupuncture and encourage an actively engaged membership who are committed to lifelong learning and excellence in practice in order to promote health and well-being among their patients.
Mission
To provide leadership and direction to physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants who are members of the Acupuncture Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association in advancing the utilization of acupuncture in clinical practice by promoting excellence in direct care, education and research.
