Research Updates

Time to get active — Why passive treatments fall short for persistent pain

Lauren Finestone

Research shows that focusing on active self-management rather than passive pain relief can help people with chronic pain achieve lasting improvements in function and well-being.

When chronic pain persists, the tendency is often to focus on pain relief through nonpharmacological treatments. That approach often includes a range of 'passive treatments' — where the person experiencing pain is simply the recipient of interventions focused on pain relief. These include treatments like acupuncture, massage, manipulation of joints, electrical stimulation heat, hypnosis and traditional herbal remedies.  While these tr...

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Published 15 July, 2025