Pain, Movement and Play: Common Sense for Complex Problems

Course overview

Play means moving in a way that is exploratory, variable, and personally meaningful. Unfortunately, physical therapy tends to be all work no play, focused on movements that are planned, repetitive, and intrinsically meaningless. This is especially problematic when pain is complex, because it cannot be "fixed" by applying simple algorithms or formulas. Instead, there needs to be experimentation, exposure to unpredictable challenge, and the motivation and optimism to move forward. In this class, we will examine the physiological complexity of pain, the difference between solving problems that are complex as opposed to mechanical, and why play is an ideal strategy to promote positive learning and adaptation in the face of uncertainty.