History

The Physiotherapy Pain Association (for Chartered Physiotherapists) (PPA) was formed in September 1994 in the United Kingdom at the Third National Pain Management Programmes Conference in Bristol.

This was as a result of an exchange of letters in "Physiotherapy" following a letter from Heather Muncey published in February 1994. This had suggested a need for a Clinical Interest Group (CIG) for Physiotherapists interested in the relief and management of pain and in education and research into the subject. Several CIGs of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) claimed pain to be a major focus of their work. However, these CIGs were perceived as being approach or modality based and the need to transcend this focused style was identified in order that exchange of ideas was facilitated across the Profession and between it and other Health Care Professions.

There were 33 Physiotherapists at the multidisciplinary Bristol Conference and the group was formed with the provisional name "The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in the Management of Pain." This later became known as the PPA. Officers were informally elected to take forward the work of writing a Constitution and setting up the Group formally.

The inaugural meeting took place in June 1995 at "Input" Pain Management Centre at St Thomas's Hospital, London. This included a study day on "The Complex Pain Patient." The Group was formally constituted and Honorary Officers were elected. These were:

Heather Muncey - Hon. Chairperson.
Jan Williams - Hon. Secretary.
Sue Mickleburgh - Hon. Treasurer.
Vicki Harding - Hon. Public Relations Officer.

A Newsletter and regular Study Days were organised and within 2 years there were 83 members. The PPA was accepted as a Clinical Interest Group of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in September 1996.

The Objectives of the PPA are:

1. To encourage, promote and facilitate interchange of thoughts and ideas between members of the said CIG.
2. To promote the role of physiotherapy in the uni- and multi-professional approaches to the relief and management of pain.
3. To develop standards of practice in the assessment, intervention and outcome of the physiotherapy management of pain.
4. To develop an awareness amongst physiotherapists of the multi-factorial nature of pain and the integrated approach to its management.
5. To identify pre- and postgraduate training and education needs and develop strategies to meet those needs.
6. To provide lectures, workshops, courses, conferences and discussions of interest to members.
7. To encourage and support research relevant to pain.
8. To integrate evidence-based practice into the execution of the preceding seven objectives.

During the six years of it's existence the PPA has published Standards of Practice for Physiotherapists working in Pain Management Programmes, established links with the International Association for the Study of Pain and it's British and Irish Chapter (The Pain Society), published proceedings of it's courses and conferences in two Year Books and liaised with Physiotherapists in many other countries. It has an active Education Committee as well as a Scientific Committee which contribute to the regular Newsletter as well as organise and support education and research.

The CIG is currently thriving and, with the continued hard work of it's members, is expected to continue to do so! It's objectives are of great importance to the Profession and to health care in general. The PPA hopes to contribute over the coming years as much as it has since it was founded in 1994.