Pain Resources - New York Physical Therapy Association

Pain Resources

APTA NY Opioid Alternative Special Committee (OASC)

Purpose:

The purpose of the APTA NY Opioid Alternative Special Committee is to promote the profession in its role in addressing the Opioid problem in the US, and more broadly in positioning the profession as first-touch, nonpharmacologic pain management providers. This purpose is aligned with the mission of the APTA and NYPTA to engage members in “building communities that advance the profession to improve the health of society”. This initiative includes organizing and facilitating research related to the effectiveness of Physical Therapist services in managing pain-related conditions, engaging stakeholder groups on policy and education, improving pain education in NYS, developing best practice approaches to pain management, and providing support for payment reform in NYS.

Where does PT fit into addressing the opioid crisis?

The educational background of Physical Therapists prepares them to serve as primary care providers for neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions. Physical Therapists possess expertise in non-invasive, nonpharmacologic approaches to pain management within a biopsychosocial framework. The Opioid epidemic reflects in part an over-reliance on pharmacologic and other passive interventions for pain conditions, which in turn are based predominately upon a biologic model of pain. Physical Therapists are therefore not only positioned to fill a gap in comprehensive pain assessment and management within the healthcare system, but also to educate communities, including but not limited to: the public, other healthcare providers, policy-makers, healthcare organizations, consumer groups, employers and government agencies.

How can PTs help?

Physical Therapists can help first by educating the public and stakeholder groups as described above.

Reference Documents

Opioid White Paper

HHS Pain Management Best Practices

CDC Guidelines Chronic Pain

IOM Relieving Pain in America

Opioid Data: Public Sources

New York State - County Opioid Quarterly Report, January 2020

New York State - 2019 Opioid Annual Report

Addiction Resources for Clinicians

Webinar: "Pain Management for Physical Therapy Clinicians" - To Be Developed