Pain Terms and Taxonomies

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Common Pain Definitions

Thus, we have two primary goals in this chapter: (1) to provide definitions for many commonly used terms in the pain literature, in an effort to bring about consistency and thereby improve communication, and

Pain

Williams and Craig suggest a revised definition, “Pain is a distressing experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage with sensory, emotional, cognitive, and social components,” to take these factors into consideration^{ballantyneBonicaManagementPain2019?}.

Classification systems and Taxonomies of Pain

2. to describe and discuss different classification systems or taxonomies that have been used or proposed, in an attempt to improve communication and bring consistency to research and treatment of patients reporting pain