99990 - INTERPRETAZIONE DEI MECCANISMI DEL DOLORE

Learning outcomes

• To provide the basic skills for clinical reasoning based on interpretation of patient pain experience
• To assess the patient pain experience with regard to the personal health condition
• To plan the most appropriate therapeutic strategies related to patient pain experience
  

Course contents

The course provides the theoretical and clinical foundations required to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying pain and their application to physiotherapy clinical reasoning. Particular emphasis is placed on integrating pain neuroscience, clinical assessment and the selection of evidence-based rehabilitation interventions.

The course covers the following topics:

• neurophysiology of pain: transduction, transmission, modulation and perception of pain;
• organisation and function of nociceptive pathways and central pain modulation mechanisms;
• peripheral and central sensitisation;
• classification of the main pain mechanisms (nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain) according to the most recent scientific evidence;
• contemporary models for the interpretation of pain within pain neuroscience and clinical practice;
• identification of predominant pain mechanisms through clinical reasoning;
• selection and interpretation of outcome measures for pain assessment and functional evaluation;
• guided discussion of clinical cases aimed at applying pain mechanism-based reasoning to physiotherapy practice.

The course also promotes the development of transferable skills in the critical appraisal of scientific literature and in the application of clinical reasoning to the assessment and management of individuals experiencing pain.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material

Lecture slides will be made available through the University's Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale).

For each topic, selected scientific papers, systematic reviews, international clinical practice guidelines and consensus documents will be provided through the Virtual Learning Environment and will be accessible via the University Library System.

 

Further readings

Additional scientific literature will be recommended throughout the course to support further study of specific topics in pain neuroscience and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Teaching methods

The course is delivered through in-presence lectures.

Teaching activities include:

• interactive lectures supported by multimedia presentations;
• guided discussion of clinical cases;
• interpretation of clinical scenarios characterised by different pain mechanisms;
• critical appraisal of scientific literature;
• clinical reasoning exercises focused on identifying pain mechanisms and selecting the most appropriate outcome measures.

Teaching materials and scientific articles will be made available through the University's Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale).

Assessment methods

Learning assessment consists of a computer-based multiple-choice examination, followed by feedback on the overall performance.

The examination is designed to assess:

• understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying pain;
• the ability to distinguish between the main pain mechanisms;
• knowledge of contemporary pain science models;
• the ability to select and interpret appropriate outcome measures;
• the application of acquired knowledge to simple clinical scenarios.

The examination lasts about 20 minutes.

During the examination, the use of textbooks, lecture notes, electronic devices or any other supporting material is not permitted.

The course assessment is based on a pass/fail evaluation.

Students obtain a Pass upon:

• attendance of the scheduled learning activities;
• successful completion of the final assessment.

No mid-term assessments or pre-examination assignments are required.

 

Use of Artificial Intelligence

With regard to assessment, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is prohibited. Any use of AI during the examination constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

 

Students with temporary or permanent disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) are encouraged to contact the University's support services well in advance so that appropriate accommodations can be arranged, consistently with the learning outcomes of the course.

Teaching tools

The following learning resources will be made available through the University's Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale):

• lecture slides; 
• scientific articles;
• international clinical practice guidelines;
• systematic reviews;
• consensus documents;
• additional learning resources.

Generative Artificial Intelligence may be used as a study support tool, for example to summarise learning materials, facilitate self-assessment and rephrase concepts. Students remain responsible for critically evaluating the scientific accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs before incorporating them into their learning process.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Turolla