PAIN-RELATED LEARNING FACTORS

SUMMARY

1. Operant learning: observable behavioral manifestations of pain, subject to reinforcement & avoidance learning, over time can generalize to other potentially painful stimuli, leading to inactivity & passivity.

2. Respondent learning: can initiate & maintain chornic pain. An aversive stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus and, with repeated exposures over time, the neutral stimulus will come to elicit an aversive response (i.e. fear).

3. Fear of movement (kinesophobia): irrational and excessive fear of movement, physical activity & reinjury, underscores the importance of identifying and treating maladaptive thinking & behavior in chornic pain patients.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.