This autumn, Flippin' Pain and Active Cumbria are launching ‘Pain Education? Good Move!’:
a creative campaign tackling the ‘empathy gap’ between patients and professionals.
The project was developed in response to a recent report by We Are Undefeatable: ‘Bridging the Gap’ found that pain was the number one reason preventing those with long term conditions from getting active.
The report also found that many of the professionals working alongside these people didn’t know pain was the number one factor, instead citing a lack of motivation and cost as the main reasons.
Clare Paling, Development Officer for Active Cumbria, said: “This evident ‘empathy gap’ creates a challenge for both patients and the providers of services: providers who are keen to support people as best they can.
“We know that it’s not intentional, and it’s preventable: ‘Pain Education? Good Move!’ aims to introduce persistent pain as an influencing factor, giving professionals the awareness and tools to tackle the problem.”
Knowledge is power
Persistent pain affects up to 50% of people in the UK. It’s the leading cause of disability and work loss, and often a lonely, struggle for those experiencing it.
What’s more, many professionals working with these people do not have access to adequate training: less than 1% of training for some health and social care disciplines is specific to pain.
The good news is that recovery from persistent pain is possible: if we have the knowledge and tools to achieve it.
Getting to know the science of pain has been proven to help people manage it: it can even change how pain feels. ‘Pain Education? Good Move’ focuses on sharing pain education as the first step, giving everyone – professionals and the public alike – an understanding on what works and what doesn’t.
Moving more to move forward
The latest pain science explains how a steady increase in movement may be the key to recovery.
Richard Pell, Director of Flippin’ Pain, said: “When approached in the right way, moving more is one of the best techniques to help those living with pain. But if we don’t understand why, that makes no sense.
“When being active is painful, movement seems like something to avoid. But the science shows that activity is safe and beneficial for people affected by persistent pain, and sometimes all they need is the knowledge and encouragement from the right people.
“We hope ‘Pain Education? Good Move!’ will give professionals of all kinds a head-start in sharing this knowledge and encouragement.”
Taking each step at a time
‘Pain Education: Good Move!’ encourages professionals to follow three steps:
- Engage and start a conversation
- Educate, using the latest pain science
- Empower people to move more.
Guidance and tools to support this approach will be shared on the Active Cumbria website and in their monthly newsletters.
For more information and to sign up to the newsletter, visit the Active Cumbria website.
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