Dr Rod McLean of the APA Musculoskeletal national group presents five discussion points about the relationship between the temporomandibular joint and temporomandibular disorders, including aetiology, subtypes and diagnosis.

A group of Australian researchers recently conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 randomised trials to analyse the effect of videoconferencing telerehabilitation on attendance at treatment appointments, adherence to exercise programs and overall satisfaction. Lead researcher, Joshua Simmich, has agreed to discuss the study.

A group of physiotherapists and a psychological scientist in Perth collaborated on a systematic review to determine whether incorporating behaviour change techniques influenced the maintenance of training-related gains following completion of an exercise-training program among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). First author, Sarah Hug, agreed to answer a few questions about the review.

In this second instalment of a two-part series on knee osteoarthritis and conservative management in the public setting in Canberra, Professor Jennie Scarvell discusses a research project that is helping to reshape the care pathway.

PD PROFILE Denise Luscombe MACP and Bas Jansen APAM discuss the upcoming course they developed to aid physiotherapists in understanding and implementing therapeutic supported lying strategies.

The Australian Pain Society’s 44th Annual Scientific Meeting was held at the Darwin Convention Centre in April this year, in the International Association for the Study of Pain’s Global Year about Sex and Gender Disparities in Pain. The following articles consider how physiotherapists can be upskilled to more effectively manage patients living with pain, how psychological treatments can improve patient outcomes and the role of interpersonal relationships in chronic pain.

RESEARCH FOCUS While pain science education is regularly used to help patients with musculoskeletal pain, its use in other chronic pain conditions such as persistent pelvic pain has been limited. New research aims to change that.

Megan Clark and Dr Ruth Hardman of the APA Pain national group present five discussion points about the influence of sex differences (biological) and gender differences (personal and social identity) on the prevalence, experience and treatment of pain.

Public patients in Canberra with painful knee osteoarthritis conditions are now being filtered through a conservative management program designed to reduce the surgery waitlist and improve patient outcomes. In this first of two part series, we look at the community program helping to open up a new knee OA care pathway.

Chronic pain affects both physical and mental health and imposes a significant personal and financial burden on Australian society.