The webinar is an introduction to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) terminology - specifically the hypothetical mechanisms of pain described as Nociceptive, Neuropathic, Nociplastic, as well as an  overview of known modes of nociception associated with these constructs. The IASP clinical descriptors are  categorized as pain types, but we'll discuss the semantic difference between type of pain and possible  mechanisms leading to pain. Discussion will include different characteristics of each mechanism to assess what  may be active in any presentation, and why. This information is helpful to include in whole-person clinical reasoning for treatment to determine how manual therapy may be beneficial and/or if more investigation is needed.

Presentation notes, including an assessment tool that outlines the mechanisms and provides a visual way to  assess will be provided, and we’ll assess the much-debated Trigger Point as an exercise. The information is primarily for clinical reasoning, although we will discuss how to broach explanatory discussions and treatment goals based on the assessment. I would encourage people to bring a case study for discussion and I'll provide some examples of how making a pain assessment can guide treatment and patient advocacy.

• More detailed understanding of current definitions of pain used by the IASP and their relationship to current mechanisms of nociception.
• An immediately usable way of categorizing pain presentations to be integrated as part of a whole-person treatment approach.
• A tool for patient advocacy to provide information on when/why further investigation may be warranted. 

About the Presenter

Monica Noy, BSc (Ost), MSc (Rehab)
Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

I'm an osteopathic manual practitioner, teacher, course developer, researcher, and board member. I’m passionate about helping new and established MSK practitioners work toward evidence- based patient-centred practices. Research, pain neuroscience, knowledge translation, and evidence-based practice are my focus areas. I received a MSc (Rehabilitation) from McMaster University, a BSc (Osteopathy) through the British College of Osteopathic Medicine conversion program, and a Diploma in Massage Therapy. I teach pain and research to massage therapy students, and am currently developing pain curriculum for a BSc in development.