Therapeutic management of the painful nerve: a narrative review of common rehabilitation interventions

Abstract

There are many ways that rehabilitation therapists, including occupational and physical therapists, treat nerve-related pain. Commonly used interventions include neurodynamic treatment, pain neuroscience education, desensitization, exercise, physical agent modalities, mirror box therapy, and Kinesio taping. Despite common practice and anecdotal support, it can be challenging to determine the appropriate intervention for each patient. In this article, each of these treatment approaches is discussed, including indicated pain phenotypes and diagnoses, timing, efficacy, mechanism, contraindications, and limitations.