Gunnel A L Berry
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Manchester, UK
Title: Adapted reflextherapy in spinal pain including whiplash
Biography
Biography: Gunnel A L Berry
Abstract
One in three adults in the US suffers from chronic pain. The annual burden in economic terms was $635 bn in 2011 for medical treatments and lost productivity. Adolescents who suffer chronic pain are at social risk as they miss out on leisure activities and friendships. 20% of all whiplash injured persons end up with chronic pain displaying widespread sensory hypersensitivity in addition to signs of posttraumatic reactions. Considered a transferable therapy, Adapted Reflextherapy is a task-specific therapeutic intervention on the feet or hands, evolved, audited and researched by the author based on the rationale of reflexology in context of compromised neural plasticity and changes of qualitative, quantitative content in axonal flow post injury. Based on thousands of new patient intervention and treatment episodes over 18 years in private practice as well as within the National Health Service (UK), clinical outcomes indicate a strong link between symptoms and outcomes from tactile peripheral sensory input. Albeit enigmatic, the paucity of alternative treatments means that Adapted Reflextherapy offers, with neurophysiological reasoning, an opportunity for change in a population of patients who hitherto continue to suffer. The presentation offers an explanation of pain production, case studies and a brief explanation of the treatment techniques in context of deceleration mechanisms.