APTA Learning Center

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Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series

  • Register
    • Early bird pricing available!
    • Non-Member - $459
    • PT Member - $299
    • PTA Member - $199
    • Student - $49
    • Post-Professional Student - $249
    • Staff - Free!
    • Regular Price after 11/16/2024 12:00 AM
    • Non-Member - $599
    • PT Member - $399
    • PTA Member - $299
    • Student - $99
    • Post-Professional Student - $349
    • Staff - Free!

Coming Soon in 2025

Join our six-course series on persistent pain, offering 22 to 30 contact hours (or 2.2 to 3.0 CEUs). Explore essential topics, including barriers to care, pain mechanisms, trauma-informed practices, and evidence-based interventions for diverse patient populations.

Early bird pricing ends November 15, 2024 - register now to secure your spot! Enhance your skills and make a meaningful impact in your practice.

Course Overviews: 

  1. Navigating Barriers, Disparities, and Trauma-Informed Care
    • 0.3 CEU/3 contact hours
    • Examine the systematic and personal challenges patients encounter in accessing care for persistent pain, and understand how these barriers and disparities may impact your role as their practitioner.
  2. Core Concepts of Pain Mechanisms and Trauma-Informed Care
    • 0.3 CEU/3 contact hours
    • Learn about pain mechanisms through a biopsychosocial lens and apply trauma-informed strategies from the patient’s perspective.
  3. Comprehensive Patient Evaluation for Pain Profiling 
    • 0.4 to 0.6 CEU/4 to 6 contact hours
    • Enhance your patient assessment skills and learn how to categorize pain types for tailored treatment strategies.
  4. Psychologically Informed Strategies in Physical Therapy
    • 0.4 to 0.6 CEU/4 to 6 contact hours
    • Learn how to add psychologically informed approaches into your daily practice when working with patients with persistent pain.
  5. Evidence-Based Interventions for Effective Pain Management
    • 0.4 to 0.6 CEU/4 to 6 contact hours
    • Expand your intervention toolbox with manual therapy skills, exercise, and use of telehealth to effectively manage patients with persistent pain.
  6. Addressing Unique Needs Across Diverse Patient Populations
    • 0.4 to 0.6 CEU/4 to 6 contact hours
    • Investigate effective pain management strategies designed for diverse patient populations and settings by choosing from one of six distinct sessions. Options include:
      1. Chronic pain in pediatric populations
      2. Complex patient presentations
      3. including working with patients who are traditionally underserved 
      4. Older adults with lower limb loss
      5. Movement-evoked pain and psychologically informed care in patients with tendinopathy
      6. Injury-related fears following ACL-R
      7. Patients presenting with persistent pain in the emergency department
  • Contains 5 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-1) In this three-part series, explore the systematic and individual challenges patients encounter in accessing persistent pain care, and how these barriers and disparities may impact your role as their practitioner. Learn about trauma-informed care at the healthcare systems level, exploring the public health sector of a patient's experience.

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series and includes three essential modules designed for healthcare professionals. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the Persistent Pain Management Series. 

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following modules: 

    • Module 1: Identifying Barriers to Effective Pain Management focuses on identifying systemic and individual obstacles to effective pain management and assessment.
    • Module 2: Recognizing Pain Management Disparities explores the recognition of individuals at risk for under-treatment of pain, including vulnerable populations.
    • Module 3: Understanding Systems-Level Trauma-Informed Care focuses on the public health perspective of trauma-informed care, examining healthcare policies and their potential effects on your practice as a practitioner.

    Coming Soon in 2025. Enroll now to elevate your approach to pain care!

    Alicia Emerson

    Ericka Merriwether

    Tabitha Galindo

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 4 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-2) This course equips healthcare professionals with essential knowledge of pain mechanisms, the biopsychosocial framework, and trauma-informed care from the patient's perspective.

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series and equips healthcare professionals with essential knowledge of pain mechanisms and trauma-informed care from the patient's perspective. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the Persistent Pain Management Series. 

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following modules: 

    • Module 1: Pain Mechanisms and the Biopsychosocial Framework participants will delve into the science of pain, exploring its physiological and psychological dimensions.
    • Module 2: Trauma-Informed Care: A Patient Perspective focuses on patient-level trauma-informed care, emphasizing how to address individual needs and enhance patient experiences.

    Coming Soon in 2025. Enroll now to elevate your approach to pain care!

    Adam Rufa

    Tabitha Galindo

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 4 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-3) Improve your assessment skills and learn about the latest developments in pain phenotyping to help identify patients using a treatment-based classification system.

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series and focuses on enhancing your skills in assessing and evaluating patients with persistent pain. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the Persistent Pain Management Series.

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following modules: 

    • Module 1: Foundations of Pain Assessment: Techniques and Best Practices, participants will learn to conduct patient evaluations that consider the biopsychosocial factors influencing pain.
    • Module 2: Pain Profiles: Mapping Individual Variability and Treatment Strategies dives into categorizing pain types to inform tailored treatment strategies, improving patient outcomes through precise clinical decision-making.

    Coming Soon in 2025. Enroll now to elevate your approach to pain care!

    Trevor Lentz

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 5 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-4) Learn how to integrate psychologically informed care into your practice for effective management of patients with persistent pain.

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series and delves into the integration of psychologically informed strategies within physical therapy to enhance the management of persistent pain. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the Persistent Pain Management Series. 

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following modules: 

    • Module 1: Understanding Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy introduces the foundational concepts of psychologically informed care, emphasizing its significance in addressing the complexities of persistent pain. 
    • Module 2: Integrating Psychological Approaches into Clinical Practice provides practical techniques for incorporating these strategies into clinical practice, equipping participants with tools to facilitate patient engagement and improve outcomes.
    • Module 3: Communicating Effectively: Discussing Pain with Your Patients focuses on effective communication skills, empowering healthcare professionals to have meaningful conversations about pain with their patients.

    Coming Soon in 2025. Enroll now to elevate your approach to pain care!

    Corey Simon

    Adriaan Louw

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 7 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-5) Enhance your expertise in managing persistent pain, including the use of manual therapy, exercise, and strategies to implement telehealth into your practice.

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the Persistent Pain Management Series. 

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following modules: 

    • Module 1: Medical Management
    • Module 2: Graded Motor Imagery 
    • Module 3: Manual Therapy as a Rehabilitation Tool
    • Module 4: Exercise in Chronic Pain: Unpacking What We Know and Why It Doesn’t Always Work
    • Module 5: Using Telehealth to Improve Access to Pain Management Care

    Coming Soon in 2025. Enroll now to elevate your approach to pain care!

    Joel Bialosky

    Mark Bishop

    Elizabeth Lane

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 16 Component(s)

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-6)

    This course is part of the Persistent Pain Management: A Comprehensive Learning Series. Upon completion of all 6 courses, you will claim your CE credits for the  Persistent Pain Management Series. 

    (Subject to Change.) This course includes the following, select one to complete:

    This course focuses on effective persistent pain management strategies tailored to various patient populations, including:

    • Pediatric considerations
    • Complex patient presentations
    • Older adults and lower limb loss
    • Psychological factors and movement-evoked pain in tendinopathy
    • Injury-related fears and return to play post-ACL reconstruction
    • Persistent pain in the emergency department

    Learning Objectives:

    1. Recognize the inter-individual variability in pain presentations and apply this understanding to contextualize the assessment and management of pain considering age, sex, family, and culture.
    2. Special attention should be paid to pain across the lifespan from the infant to the older adult
    3. Effects of sex and gender on pain and pain management should be considered
    4. Critically evaluate and apply reliable and valid pain assessment measures that examine:
    5. Pain intensity/severity (e.g., Numerical Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, Location, Type, including nociceptive, nociplastic, and neuropathic
    6. Function and Disability/Impairment (e.g., Six-minute Walk Test, Oswestry Disability Index, Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire)
    7. Psychophysical (pain thresholds) or autonomic response measures (e.g., skin conductance)
    8. Psychological factors (e.g., Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Fear Avoidance Scale, depression, anxiety, Stress Scale, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire)
    9. Social domain (e.g., supportive social network, Pain Disability Index)
    10. Person-centered factors (identified by a thorough clinical interview; e.g., sex, age, culture, beliefs about pain, expectations, coping strategies, impact)
    11. Vulnerable populations (e.g., communication barriers, cognitive impairment, cultural sensitivities)
    12. Social factors (e.g., supportive network, participation in life)
    13. Identify and analyze social, environmental (work/home) and institutional context or factors unique to the person that can impact the assessment of pain.
    14. Develop and implement a management plan that reflects meaningful shared decision making, including the person and relevant others (such as family, friends, health professionals)
    15. Undertake shared decision making (with the patient) that is underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and contemporary pain science
    16. Identify and implement exercise and activity as a key component of physiotherapy/physical therapy management, including across all stages of pain conditions and across the lifespan.
    17. Identify the indications and evidence for and the proposed mechanisms underlying commonly used interventions, including but not limited to exercise, manual therapy, relaxation strategies (breathing, body scan), mindfulness meditation, and electrotherapeutic agents such as TENS and interferential current, acupuncture, ultrasound, laser, and biofeedback.
    18. Apply cognitive and behavioral approaches to support improved functional movement and person-centered pain outcomes (e.g., specifically addressing beliefs and fear avoidance or endurance).


    Expand your expertise in navigating the unique challenges associated with these diverse groups.

    Susan Tupper

    Sarah Wenger

    PT, DPT

    Dr. Wenger is an associate clinical professor at Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. She received her master of physical therapy degree from Arcadia University in 1997 and her doctor of physical therapy degree from Temple University in 2002. She also is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. She has published and presented on a range of topics related to her areas of expertise in chronic pain, underserved populations, and clinical reasoning, and she provides pro bono services in a community-based clinic. With an interdisciplinary team, Wenger developed a chronic pain clinical reasoning model and psycho-education program called Power Over Pain.

    Emma Beisheim-Ryan

    PT, DPT, PhD

    Emma Beisheim-Ryan, PT, DPT, PhD, is a physical therapist and musculoskeletal rehabilitation research scientist at the Department of Defense-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence. She completed her doctorate degrees at the University of Delaware, where her research focused on improving the evaluation and conservative management of post-amputation pain. She received implementation science training during an advanced geriatrics fellowship at the Eastern Colorado Department of Veterans Affairs prior to transitioning to her current role. Her research interests include incorporating evidence-based interventions into rehabilitative care to improve functional outcomes and limb loss management within the military health system.

    Ruth Chimenti

    Terese Chmielewski

    Keith Roper

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

  • Contains 1 Component(s), Includes Credits

    (Persistent-Pain-Management-Series-CEU-Certificate)

    Course Instructions

    1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
    2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
    3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
    4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org.