Interdisciplinary management of adolescent chronic pain: developing the role of the physiotherapist

Children and adolescents report chronic pain, and a significant minority develop pain associated distress and disability. Unidisciplinary and uni-modal treatments are rarely successful, but recent developments in interdisciplinary programmes of cognitive behavioural therapy are promising areas of development. Physiotherapy is the key to the success of interdisciplinary teamwork. This review describes the developing role of physiotherapy in an adolescent chronic pain team. The treatment is introduced, its effectiveness briefly reported, and the main roles of the physiotherapist described. Issue for future development are briefly discussed. Physiotherapy is a core component of multi- and interdisciplinary treatments that can be very effective in helping adolescents who are facing a lifetime of pain and disability significantly reduce the impact of pain on their lives, and return to normal activity.