Coaching, Communication, and the Therapeutic Alliance to Help Manage Persistent Pain

The Pain Science Division is a special interest group of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association that serves physiotherapists who have an interest in better understanding and managing pain and in connecting with likeminded clinicians, educators and researchers. The mission of the Pain Science Division is to: Foster connections and collaborations between clinicians, educators and researchers interested in pain and physiotherapy, facilitate the bidirectional translation of knowledge between pain research and clinical practice and integrate the professional interests of Canadian physiotherapists within national and international pain networks.

The PSD wants to help advance the level of pain education across the country. Pain is a multi-faceted and complex experience that warrants careful consideration and reflection by both entry-level students and experienced clinicians. Our goal is to address this issue from a multi-pronged perspective. In addition to providing clinicians with opportunities for professional development we also want to be in close communication with university-level educators and clinical specialization regulators. 

Jason Silvernail has been a practicing physical therapist since 1997, on duty in the United States Army as a career military officer with over 25 years of service. Dr. Silvernail has worked with a wide variety of patient populations and settings including orthopedic/sports, chronic pain, amputee and neurological rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning.

Dr Silvernail earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Scranton, and his Doctor of Science from Baylor University. He is board-certified in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Army-Baylor Army-Baylor Doctoral Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy at Fort Sam Houston, earning him a Fellowship in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.

A clinician and researcher, he has published clinical commentaries and original research in the medical literature (including the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Manual Therapy, and the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy) and he has a prominent professional presence online where you can connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.
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Opinions expressed by Dr. Silvernail are his own and do not represent the official policy or position of the United States Army, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

Sandra has worked in healthcare for over 20 years, primarily in bioethics. She managed a research ethics board, and was part of an epidemiology team at the CHUM Research Centre. Her industry experience includes healthcare philanthropy and patient privacy protection. She spent 5 years in the Canadian Air Force reserve, specializing in wilderness survival. Sandra was a Major at the Regional Officer-Instructor School, training other officers, while Captain as deputy commanding officer of her squadron.

In May 2016 Sandra was diagnosed with CRPS, following an earlier Colles’ fracture. She now applies her bioethics and research knowledge to advocating for chronic pain patients, often one-on-one.

Her CRPS and chronic pain awareness-raising focuses on HCPs. Sandra has presented to medical students through the MUHC’s Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit (AEPMU), and to medical residents. She was a Patient Partner & Twitter Team member for the 2018 Canadian Pain Society conference.