Common pain-related definitions
Acute pain
Pain that starts suddenly and has a specific cause, like an injury or illness, and lasts a short time. It alerts the patient to seek help
Biopsychosocial model
Approach that addresses the biological, psychological, and social factors of health and illness
Chronic pain
Pain that typically lasts more than 3 months or past the time of normal healing (International Association for the Study of Pain, 1986)
Interdisciplinary treatment
Collaborative treatment provided by a diverse care team (International Association for the Study of Pain, 2017)
Occupations/ daily life activities
Everyday activities that people do to bring meaning and purpose to life (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2012)
Pain
A subjective, unpleasant physical and emotional experience associated with actual or potential damage (International Association for the Study of Pain, 1994)
Physical function
Ability to function without limitations in the course of daily life (CDC, 1993)
Physical function experts
Providers dedicated to the improvement of their patients’ physical health and function. They could include physical therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, or others
Physical function services
Treatments that improve healthy moving and functioning and are often provided by physical function experts. For example, services could include evaluation, exercise therapy, or neuromuscular re-education
Transdisciplinary treatment
Integrated interdisciplinary treatment that promotes sharing and collaborating within a team
Trauma informed
Using an understanding of trauma to create policies and practices that respond to trauma and avoid re-traumatization (SAMHSA)
