Explaining central sensitisation to patients

January 09, 2015 by Sian Smale

Pain education in the clinical setting, particularly in a 1:1 setting with patients can be very challenging to do. The aim of this blog is to define the changes which occur within the body that result in central sensitisation and some options of how to educate patients about the meanings of chronic pain and central sensitisation pain.

Sensation Testing for Patient with Central Nervous System Lesion

December 28, 2014 by Alicia Rayner

I often perform upper limb and lower limb neurology testing but rarely assess other forms of sensation. This provides a comprehensive overview of sensation testing for a central lesion, with peripheral testing being described in a later blog post.

Meniscus Injury...conservative or surgical management?

November 27, 2014 by Alicia Rayner

Meniscus injuries are common but what is the appropriate management? What clinical factors indicate conservative or surgical management pathways? The main clinical issue currently is the lack of research regarding the efficacy of arthroscopic meniscus repairs compared to a conservative approach. This blog aims to give a clinical overview, so therapists know when surgery or a conservative approach is appropriate.

Cervicogenic Headache

November 23, 2014 by Sian Smale

Cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache arising from a musculoskeletal dysfunction within the cervical spine, and is a disorder that many physiotherapists treat. The purpose of this blog is to explore the clinical assessment of CGH, outline the debate on manual therapy skills which has been ongoing since 1988, and to discuss the manual examination procedure performed by the clinicians used in the landmark research trials.

The Pain Neuromatrix

November 07, 2014 by Sian Smale

This blog explores the neuroanatomy of pain and the concept of the pain neuromatrix. It provides a brief outline on how we can adapt our physiotherapy treatment to better educate our patients and retrain them to improve their functional levels without activating the pain neuromatrix.

Meet Marnie...Central Sensitisation Case Study

October 31, 2014 by Alicia Rayner

I had often read the theory of central sensitisation, told to look for signs of "central sensitisation" during my subjective and physical assessment. However, I had rarely seen a true "central sensitisation" patient...until I treated Marnie. This blog outlines her story, her clinical presentation, her descriptors of the condition, failed management and the management journey I undertook with her.