Body Schema, Midline & Central Pain Presentations:

Sensory motor & Primitive Reflex Development

Course Description

It is now clear that our virtual brain and body schema are involved in pain states. In some cases they can be a primary cause of the pain state. The brain needs to know what is happening in the body. It gets this information from sensory feedback. When this information is deficient the brain will change its behaviour to get this information. When it is absent or significantly inaccurate musculoskeletal symptoms can result.

We will cover how to assess for a disrupted body schema using a battery of tests. Evidence based treatments will be covered in detail. These involve specific sensory training and the neurodevelopmental process whereby we learn how our body schema. This is through the primitive reflexes that guide our movement and the sensory systems that are used during this process.

We will also cover an easy to use and highly accurate clinical prediction rule for the diagnosis of central sensitization. This was researched by using rate controlled thermal and pressure pain thresholds in six quadrants. These were compared to thirty-six variable (clinical assessment and self report measures) to develop the model. The understanding of the relationship between neurocognitive function, sensory motor function and neuroplasticity has created a number of evidence based rehabilitation strategies for central sensitization.

You will leave with a clear understanding of when to apply the clinical prediction rule, and assessment strategies for altered body schema, along with the appropriate subjective history, physical examination and outcome measures to use. You will be able to develop a rehabilitation program for clients with altered body schema and / or central sensitization and have appropriate progressions and problem solving strategies.

Why do people have whole limb pain or paresthesia? Get all their symptoms on one side of their bodies? Feel swelling when there isn’t any? Have one sided fatigue, heaviness or other bizarre musculoskeletal-like complaints?

There is growing evidence of an altered body schema. Unilateral neglect in stroke, phantom limb pain and Complex regional Pain Syndrome and dystonia are all likely versions of this.

Course Objectives:

Understand altered body schema, central sensitization and their role in pain states

Use a clinical prediction rule of self report and physical examination items to diagnose central sensitization

Be able to assess for altered body schema

Appreciate the role of the sensory system and the developmental process in body schema and pain

Develop a rehabilitation program for body schema disorders and central sensitization with appropriate starting points and progressions

What will you get from this course that you may not already have?

Body Schema
We will show you how to assess for body schema disorders and rehabilitation strategies which can be applied to a wide range of other conditions and clinical presentations.

Clinical Prediction Rule for Diagnosis of Central Sensitization
Our evidence based clinical prediction rule will allow you to make a diagnosis of central sensitization with confidence.

Rehabilitation of Central Sensitization
We will provide you with new evidence based treatments. The understanding of the relationship between neurocognitive function, sensory motor function and neuroplasticity has created a number of rehabilitation strategies for central sensitization.

Outcome and Timeframes
You will understand normal timeframes and how long it takes the central nervous system to change