Gunnel Berry
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Manchester, UK
Title: Pain in children – 3 case studies
Biography
Biography: Gunnel Berry
Abstract
Children are expected to participate in physical activity without pain and with full function. Pain causes immobility, discomfort and misery. Children may complain of pain but are ignored, told it is growing, over- or under-use pains of muscles and bones. Children have no clear experience to differentiate pains. They react to an immediate situation. The mission of the NCHID (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) is to ensure that all children have the chance to achieve their “…full potential for healthy and productive lives…” Abdominal pain affects 10 – 20% of school age children. Musculoskeletal dysfunction may be the cause for abdominal pain. how is this addressed? AdRx (Adapted Reflextherapy) is reported as a manual therapy applied on the feet in context of pain. The hypothesis is that sensory stimulus facilitates synaptic potentiation by nerve plasticity. This has been particularly beneficial in acute and chronic pain states. Anatomical and physiological plasticity are ongoing processes in tissue matrix ensuring continued replacement and regeneration of damaged tissue material ensuring synaptic interchanges. This presentation includes 3 case studies of children suffering from severe pain a) abdominal pain, b) Achilles tendon pain, c) pain during void and bowel evacuation procedures associated with severe dermatitis. Symptoms had severe inhibitory effects on the children’s lives. Application of AdRx offered good outcomes. An interactive debate on a common denominator of children’s pain and method of treatment in context of physiotherapy intervention is encouraged.