PHTY20290 Fundamentals of Pain Science and Practice

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module equips students with a solid understanding of pain science and mechanisms, examining pain from a biopsychosocial perspective and exploring evidence-based assessment and management of common presentations. Students will also learn how factors related to both patients and healthcare professionals may influence treatment. They will acquire the ability to select appropriate physiotherapy assessment and management interventions based on clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice principles, while emphasizing compassion, professionalism, safety, and ethics, in a patient-centered manner that respects societal and cultural diversity.
Additionally, this module covers electro-physical modalities, providing students with a theoretical and evidence-based foundation in the safe, practical, and effective application of electro-physical agents relevant to physiotherapy. Adhering to infection control and safety standards, students will be prepared for managing patients in clinical practice using various electro-physical modalities, such as therapeutic heat, cryotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, low-level laser therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
Throughout the module, students are encouraged to integrate knowledge from other modules (anatomy, physiology, functional anatomy and kinesiology, physics, and professional practice) to enhance their understanding of pain science principles and management strategies.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the biopsychosocial model of pain, recognizing the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in the experience and management of pain.
2. Exhibit knowledge of pain neuroscience, including the underlying mechanisms, pathways, and processes involved in the perception and modulation of pain.
3. Employ various pain assessment techniques, utilizing both self-report and objective measures, to accurately evaluate the intensity, location, and nature of pain experienced by patients.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary pain science and management, and apply evidence-based practices to the biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of patients experiencing diverse pain presentations across the lifespan.
5. Understand the theoretical and physiological mechanisms underpinning pain, tissue healing, pain modulation, and muscle re-education, as well as the safe and appropriate application of electro-physical agents for these purposes.
6. Exhibit competency in the evidence-informed and safe use of selected electro-physical agents in rehabilitation.
7. Apply safe and effective practices when utilizing electro-physical agents, demonstrating proficiency in physiotherapy assessment and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.
8. Critically evaluate and coherently present relevant literature concerning the evidence base for electro-physical agent application.

Indicative Module Content:

This module introduces students to pain science and mechanisms, the biopsychosocial model of pain, and evidence-based assessment and management of pain presentations across the lifespan. Furthermore, students will gain an understanding of the role and application of electro-physical modalities in contemporary clinical practice, including therapeutic heat, cryotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, low-level laser therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

Key module content includes:
● Stages of tissue healing and repair, and the role of physical agents.
● Pain and pain modulation using physical agents.
● Basic neuromuscular physiology for electrical muscle stimulation.
● Evidence-based practice concerning the therapeutic application of physical agents.
● Thermal therapeutic agents, such as heat, ice, therapeutic ultrasound, and low-level laser therapy.
● Electrotherapy agents, including interferential current, transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation (TENS), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

16
Small Group

15
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Online Learning

10
Total

101
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module employs:
Content teaching by didactic lecture and asynchronous (online) video lectures
Problem-based learning and Group Discussion
Clinical skills based laboratory / practical classes
Online tutorials and quizzes to support knowledge acquisition and clinical reasoning. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
ANAT10110 - Clinical Human Anatomy I, PHTY10080 - Applied Physics Principles, PHTY10100 - Physio Practice I(Clinic Ed I)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Group oral presentation based on critical appraisal of scientific literature Week 10 n/a Graded No

40
Attendance: Completion of learning units (including pre-recorded multimedia content and quizzes) in the Virtual Learning Environment (Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

10
Class Test: An class test will be conducted in weeks 12-13. Week 12 n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: This multiple choice questionnaire exam will be conducted during week 6 and will assess content presented in online learning materials in weeks 1-5. Week 6 n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Name Role
Professor Catherine Blake Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Catherine Doody Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Brona Fullen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Keith Smart Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Fri 09:00 - 10:15
Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 22 Fri 09:00 - 10:15
Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Fri 10:45 - 12:00
Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 22 Fri 10:45 - 12:00
Small Group Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Fri 12:00 - 13:15
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 Wed 09:00 - 10:50
Spring