UNLEARNING NOCIPLASTIC PAIN

Online Live Webinar

Recent advancements suggest that nociplastic pain is a learned, non-conscious process related to threat perception. Neurobiological pain education, using methods like movement, mindfulness, and group activities, shows promise for unlearning this pain. In this lecture, Belen will present a phase transition model to explain how nociplastic pain is learned and unlearned. She will then discuss how this model can be used to improve communication, leading to more successful outcomes in managing individuals experiencing chronic pain.

Prof. Belén Valenzuela is a Senior Scientist with more than 20 years of research experience, focusing on Quantum Phases of Matter, particularly a phenomenon called phase transition. Her research interests changed due to her personal experience with chronic pain, which lasted one and a half years. To manage her condition, she practiced consciousness through movement and engaged in neurobiological education. She then realized that the phenomenon of phase transition was key to understanding meaningful concepts in cognitive science. Through this process, she was able to unlearn maladaptive loops, becoming more functional in her daily life. With these insights, she decided to change her line of research to cognitive science. Consequently, she has developed a phase transition model for perception to illustrate the learning and unlearning of nociplastic pain, which can be extended to other mind-body disorders.

Further reading: Landau model for illustrating the learning and unlearning process of nociplastic pain. Belén Valenzuela. Front. Pain Research 20, Feb 2024

The course will provide for OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE STANDARDS CPD requirements in the following areas:

2 hours Learning with Others

OPS CPD Requirements
Learning include
Communication and patient partnership
Listening, respecting patient's concerns and preferences, dignity and modesty, effective communication, providing information, consent, patient partnership.
Knowledge, skills and performance
Having sufficient knowledge and skills, working within training and competence, keeping up to date, analysing and reflecting on information to enhance patient care.
Safety and quality in practice
Patient evaluation, management, safeguarding, wider role in enhancing patients' health and wellbeing.