Global Leadership Series: Pain- a major challenge to Australia's social fabric

Event Details

Date:

Tuesday, 21 July 2015 - Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Time:

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location:

Customs House, 399 Queen St, Brisbane

URL:

http://www.alumni.uq.edu.au/gls-pain

Event category(s):

Full Description:: Chronic pain presents a major challenge to the Australian community and the economy. Most of this burden is related to lower back pain (LBP) and osteoarthritis. LBP is the major cause of disability internationally and the overall burden is second to cancer. The impact is broad. Not only does pain reduce productivity and quality of life, it limits adoption of a healthy physically active lifestyle which is advocated as the solution to the modern blight of chronic diseases related to obesity and inactivity. It is time to act.

There is considerable misunderstanding regarding what pain is (and is not), and this has a major impact on how it is dealt with by the individual with pain and by the community. It is critical that pain is demystified and the myths dispelled. New treatments are emerging. Drugs are getting refined and developed. Although there is a common perception that ultimately most will resort to drugs and surgical interventions, conservative treatments (including exercise, physical treatments) are considered the cornerstone of management with potent effects.

UQ is leading the way in discovery in pain. Teams from across UQ are making a major impact on the key elements of this debate from recognition of the impact to development of innovative solutions.