Dedicated and passionate pediatric physical therapist aspirant with a strong foundation in physiotherapy and a desire to empower children to reach their full potential. Currently pursuing an MSPT in Neuromuscular Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, allowing me to build rapport with children and families. Eager to leverage teaching and research experience to contribute to a dynamic pediatric physical therapy team and ultimately become a practicing neuro-pediatric physical therapist.
Chronic Pain in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. Pain can be caused by a variety of factors in CP including physical causes, emotional stresses and motor impairments. Since the diagnosis is made for a lifetime, chronic pain is very common. Despite the large prevalence of chronic pain, it is still not understood well, thus leading to poor management and outcomes. This discussion focuses on the prevalence, characteristics and causes of chronic pain, as well as tools to assess the pain, and future paths for studies. Adopting chronic pain into our framework of understanding cerebral palsy will help create a more cohesive approach to the rehabilitation and treatment of these patients.