A new program that addresses sleep as a fundamental component of chronic pain rehabilitation has been announced today at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. 

Putting physiotherapy in the driver’s seat, this new approach has the potential to significantly reduce reliance on medications and invasive procedures. It also aims to improve quality of life for Australians with chronic pain.

A feasibility study linked to the new model of care showed that integrating sleep assessment into physiotherapy care can profoundly impact pain levels—leading to a revolutionary shift in physiotherapy practice. 

Ahead of World Sleep Day on March 14, researchers have revealed both the results of the study and a new model of care that equips physiotherapists with the tools to address sleep as a key factor in pain management. 

Neurosurgeon Professor Tony Goldschlager joined physiotherapist Peter Allen APAM, sleep physician Dr Harshan Jeyakumar and neuroscientist Professor Scott Ayton at the Florey Institute today to share insights from the study and discuss the potential for sleep-focused physiotherapy to improve patient outcomes. 

The team also revealed details of a new nation-wide training program for physiotherapists to incorporate sleep strategies into patient care.

Peter Allen, from the Melbourne Brain and Spine Group, has spent years treating patients struggling with chronic pain. Despite his best traditional physiotherapy interventions, some patients continued to experience persistent discomfort. 

However, his involvement in the recent feasibility study and subsequent new model of care has helped to transform his approach. 

The new model of care and associated training program represents a significant milestone for the profession, placing physiotherapists at the forefront of an innovative, holistic approach to pain management. 

Historically, chronic pain management has leaned heavily on pharmacological and surgical interventions, often with limited efficacy and considerable risk. 

Sleep assessment in chronic pain management has been largely overlooked despite mounting evidence of its role in pain perception and recovery. 

With more than 3.6 million people experiencing some form of chronic pain, the need for effective non-invasive treatment options is more pressing than ever. 

The recent study, led by Professor Goldschlager, underscores physiotherapists’ potential to bridge this gap. The study revealed that many patients experiencing chronic pain also suffered from undiagnosed sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea. 

Professor Goldschlager says that addressing these conditions, alongside conventional physiotherapy treatment, led to significant pain reduction, improved functional outcomes and overall enhanced quality of life.  

The foundation of the new model of care lay in empowering physiotherapists with the tools and knowledge required to assess and improve their patients’ sleep quality. 

Traditionally, sleep disorders have been managed separately from musculoskeletal disorders. 

However, the feasibility study demonstrated a clear and compelling link between sleep quality and pain. 

During the study, researchers screened participants for sleep disorders, provided targeted interventions and prescribed an innovative adjustable bed system designed to optimise sleep posture. 

Under video guidance, physiotherapists tailored each patient’s sleep set-up to provide customised support, significantly enhancing their pain management outcomes. 

The groundbreaking new model, which will include an online learning component, has the potential to promote physiotherapy as the primary, first-line treatment option for chronic pain, Professor Goldschlager says. 

The integration of sleep-focused interventions align seamlessly with physiotherapy’s holistic ethos of patient-centred care, movement-based rehabilitation and evidence-based practice. 

By incorporating sleep assessment into the clinical framework, physiotherapists can offer a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to pain management.

The success of the feasibility study has already sparked plans for a larger randomised controlled trial.

The new model of care is also set to expand its reach through training initiatives. More than 30 physiotherapy clinics nationally have already begun integrating sleep assessment into their practice, with plans to scale up to 100 clinics by the end of this year.

This expansion will ensure that more physiotherapists are equipped with the necessary skills to implement sleep interventions effectively, helping to enhance patient outcomes on a national scale. 

Professor Goldschlager says the aim of the training is to help reduce the economic burden of chronic pain on Australia’s healthcare system. 

By addressing sleep as a key factor in pain management, he says, the program has the potential to reduce hospital admissions, decrease reliance on costly surgical interventions and minimise the need for long-term medication use. 

Unlike other interventions, sleep-focused physiotherapy requires minimal additional resources beyond the knowledge and training provided to clinicians. 

The prescribed bed system developed as part of the program ensures patients can receive personalised sleep support without the need for expensive or invasive treatments. 

Physiotherapists have long been recognised as the cornerstone of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and the new model of care represents an opportunity to expand their influence and expertise into new domains. 

By integrating sleep assessment into their practice, physiotherapists can not only enhance patient outcomes but also reinforce their profession’s credibility as an essential pillar of holistic healthcare. 

The success of this initiative underscores the immense value physiotherapists bring to chronic pain management and sets the stage for further advancements in patient-centred care.