For Pain Management

What is Chronic Pain?

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage". Acute pain is usually short-term pain caused by recent injury or trauma, with healing of the tissues and resolution occurring within 3 months. When acute pain does not resolve within 3 months, it is classified as Chronic Pain.

What is the Feldenkrais Method®?

The Feldenkrais Method uses exploratory learning to help clients improve functional activity. It is practiced by thousands of registered Feldenkrais Practitioners across the world.

How does the Feldenkrais Method help people with Chronic Pain?

• Increased understanding of oneself, including how pain is affecting one's life
• Improved ease of movement and comfort in performing functional activities
• Learn new ways of moving to allow increased options for a fuller life.

Info sheet:  Link to The Feldenkrais Method in the Management of Chronic Pain, handout

Full document:  Link to The Feldenkrais Method in the Management of Chronic Pain 

To assist with management of chronic pain you can locate a Feldenkrais Practitioner or Awareness Through Movement class in your area by telephone FREECALL 1800 001 550 or see a list of Feldenkrais Practitioners in your State

Australian Feldenkrais Guild Inc - Participation in the National Pain Strategy

The Australian Feldenkrais Guild Inc supported the National Pain Summit, an Australian initiative held in Canberra on 11 March 2010. The outcome of the Summit was the development of a National Pain Strategy and the establishment of Painaustralia Limited. A statement of support and endorsement by the AFG Inc was sent to Lesley Brydon, Executive Director National Pain Strategy.

The Australian Feldenkrais Guild would like to congratulate the National Pain Summit committee on the final Strategy document. We are pleased to have been involved in the summit, which brought together so many disciplines involved in the field of pain management. The strategy developed by this working group is comprehensive and coherent. Feldenkrais Practitioners are well aware of the problems associated with chronic pain as described in the document. We fully endorse the Strategy and look forward to being involved in its implementation.

The Australian Feldenkrais Guild Inc is a member of Painaustralia Limited.

Painaustralia Limited - National Pain Strategy: working to prevent and manage pain www.painaustralia.org.au

For AFG Members only:  AFG reports on National Pain Summit and Strategy by AFG working group

Further information:

The National Pain Strategy - Appendix 1 The Science of Pain, describes What is Pain?

Television program - ABC 7.30 Report March 11 (day of the Pain Summit): interview with Chair Pain Summit Prof Michael Cousins

Television program - Catalyst-Body Identity: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2576978.htm

Book - Explain Pain by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley:  obtainable from Neuro Orthopaedic Institute Australia/Noi Publications

Video -  from Hunter Integrated Pain Service and GP Access an animation that explains chronic pain called "Understanding Pain: What to do about it in less than five minutes?"