title: The integration of pain sciences into clinical practice.
abstract: In the past three decades, a scientific revolution has occurred in the understanding of the experience of pain. However, a clinical revolution based on the new science is yet to occur. Pain is a multidimensional experience with many contributing and interacting biological/pathobiological mechanisms. These mechanisms may be nociceptive, peripheral neurogenic, central, affective/cognitive or relate to output systems such as the motor and autonomic nervous system. With a better understanding of pain-related neurobiology and some clinical decision making skills, reasoned attempts at a diagnosis of pain can be made. The essential question and first step related to clinical integration is to ask, "what is (are) the predominant mechanism(s) in a given patient's pain state?" This paper provides the underlying clinical biology of pain mechanisms and proposes pain patterns related to the mechanisms.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities