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| PAIN MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN
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Alternative
methods of management of pain:
Acupuncture:Ancient Chinese medical
technique involving stimulation of specific skin location by
a variety of methods. Example: Needle insertion at acupuncture
point.
Art therapy:Use of creative arts to
modify pain and mood. Example: having children use arts and
craft as a means to express feelings/concerns about their pain
and its treatment.
Behavioral
management: Use of
operant and classical conditioning methods to manage pain related
disability. Examples: Rewarding a child's efforts to increase
activities and comply with treatments; desensitizing a child
to aversive aspects of medical treatment.
Breathing:
Modulation of breathing to increase sensation of relaxation
and exercises to distract the child from pain. Example: Deep
breaths, "blowing away pain".
Biofeedback:
Provision of auditory and/or visual feedback related changes
in involuntary bodily responses to assist with the modification
of these responses. Examples: Heart rate, galvanic skin response
(GSR), hand temperature, and electromyography (EMG).
Cold therapy:
Use of cold to provide local analgesia, typically for acute
pain. Examples: Ice massage, vapocoolant sprays, cold packs.
Cognitive
therapy: Modification
of cognitions that exacerbate pain and mood. Examples: Reducing
negative, "catastrophizing cognitions", increasing
the child's positive self- statements about his/her abilities
to cope.
Distractions:
Use of any variety of methods that absorb the child's attention
methods to reduce the child's focus on pain and pain treatment.
Examples: bubble blowing, singing, videogames, party blowers,
pinwheels.
Education:
Providing age appropriate information to children about their
pain, and the methods used to treat pain. Example: Explaining
to a school age child that they can rub the injection site "close
to the pain gate" before and after the shot.
Exercise: Prescribed activities
to increase the child's functional capacities and reverse any
pain related deconditioning. Examples: stretching, strengthening,
flexibility, aerobic and range of motion exercises.
Heat Therapy: Use of heat to relieve
muscle spasm, joint stiffness and increase local metabolism.
Example: Hot packs, hydrotherapy, ultrasound.
Last
updated on 03-04-2002
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