Musculoskeletal Pain in Youth

This webinar - held on 22 May 2023 - was produced by the International Association for the Study of Pain's Musculoskeletal Pain Special Interest Group (MSK SIG) - in collaboration with the International Patellofemoral Research Network (iPFRN) - and supported by the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT).
                                                                                        
Chronic pain in adolescents/young adults is often neglected. Importantly, chronic pain impacts quality of life in adolescents/young adults just like the adult population. Families to adolescents/young adults with chronic pain are often uncertain about treatment options and diagnoses, which can add additional layers of stress and worriedness. Diagnostic uncertainty is associated with poorer child pain outcomes and is intricately tied to clinical communication along the pain management journey. Adolescents/young adults with localized pain complaints are at high risk of developing complex widespread pain syndrome over a 5-10 year period.
                                                                                          
This webinar focused on the consequences of chronic pain in adolescents/young adults, the challenges faced by youth and caregivers as they navigate chronic pain management, and how chronic pain can impact youth’s lives and their families. The symposium covered the most recent evidence on how untreated chronic pain in adolescents/young adults can develop into more complex pain disorders.

Participants included:

• Rhiannon Joslin, PhD, University of Southampton, UK; The Lived Experiences of Pain, Treatment, and Recovery During Youth
• Alexandra Neville, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA; What Does Diagnostic Uncertainty Mean to an Adolescent and Their Family?
• Michael Skovdal Rathleff, PhD, Dr.Med., Aalborg University, Denmark; How to Help Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Through Education and Support on Self-Management
• Kristian Kjær-Staal Petersen, PhD, Dr.Med., Aalborg University, Denmark (moderator)