31 March 2017
A traveling “pain revolution” is set to roll into country towns between Melbourne and Adelaide from April 3 -9, when a group of world-leading pain researchers cycle more than 870 km to bring their findings to regional and rural communities.
Treatment for persisting pain is Australia’s biggest healthcare cost, yet the best evidence-based treatments, reach only a fraction of the 1 in 4 Australians affected by this condition.
Led by Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of South Australia, Lorimer Moseley, who has been at the forefront of research on pain and the brain for two decades, the ride will help to focus on what Prof Moseley believes is a much needed revolution in how we talk about and treat pain.
Kicking off early in April the cycling researchers will be stopping at key rural centres along the way to conduct community outreach events and talk with the local health professionals.
“It is time to put all the amazing pain discoveries of the last 20 years into practice,” Prof Moseley says.
“The best way to do this is to get everyone speaking the same language about pain.
“Persisting pain is an epidemic in developed countries and we know that treating persisting pain with medication alone is an incomplete solution, which has led to further problems of addiction.
“Pain involves a person’s whole life, and their understanding of pain is a critical first step to recovery.”
Prof Moseley believes that traditionally strong communities in the country and regions can play an important role helping people recover from pain conditions.
“We can make a huge impact in rural communities because they are exactly that – communities,” he says.
“The communities in the bush are used to pulling together to help themselves; and if we can get them all on the same page about pain, and how to help each other, our bold aims can be achieved.”
The “Pain Revolution” cyclists will be accompanied by the “Brain Bus”, an interactive health learning centre on wheels.
People can experience the science of the brain through illusions, experiments and virtual reality applications.
“Science shouldn’t only live in the lab,” Prof Moseley says.
“We want everyone to understand the amazing science of pain because we know that when they do, their sense of possible shifts - hope returns and, critically, a pathway to recovery emerges.”
Money raised and connections made during the Pain Revolution ride will be used to create a network of local pain educators in rural Australia.
Donations will be used to educate health professionals and community members on an ongoing basis, fund further research to support the program and ensure it is evidence-based and effective, and create a model for community-based pain interventions that can be used by people worldwide.
“We have ambitious goals – but we know this is a critical health issue and with my colleagues at UniSA, interstate and internationally, we want to lead the way in improving outcomes globally and empowering communities and health professionals with the very latest research into chronic pain,” Prof Moseley says.
You can hear more about Prof Moseley’s pain research here
Media contacts:
Michèle Nardelli mobile: 0418 823 673 email: michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
Lana Davidson mobile: 0417 874 299 email: lana.davidson@unisa.edu.au
Program for the Pain Revolution ride
April 3
Melbourne
Riders depart from Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus, Poplar Rd, Parkville
Route: From RMH, through Royal Park, past the Zoo and out of city.
Melbourne - Ballarat
Brain Bus arrives (12.30 – 3.30pm) at Phoenix Foundry Mall, Armstrong Street South, Ballarat
Riders arrive at the Brain Bus 3.30pm
Ballarat Public Seminar (5-6pm) Pain, Brains and Recovery with global experts on pain and treatment Professor Lorimer Moseley and Dr David Butler
Ballarat Community Health Centre, 12 Lilburne Street, Lucas.
Followed by a Professional Seminar (7 -8.30pm)
Gathering of local Doctors, allied health professionals and support workers from Ballarat and surrounds to upskill about the best evidence-based care for people in pain.
April 4
Riders depart Ballarat 8.45am
Brain Bus arrives at, Lorne SLSC grassy area, 12noon -3pm
Riders arrive Lorne at 3pm
Lorne Public forum (5.30 -7pm) at Lorne Community House
Pain, Do you Get It? Talk and panel discussion with community and professionals about rethinking, and recovering from, persisting pain.
April 5
Riders depart Lorne at 8am en-route to Warrnambool - 10.30 -11am in Apollo Bay,
3.30pm arrive at Twelve Apostles
Brain Bus will be at the Civic Green, Warrnambool from 12-3pm,
Warrnambool Public Seminar 5-6pm at Lighthouse Theatre, Pain, Brains and Recovery with global experts on Pain and treatment Professor Lorimer Moseley and Dr David Butler presenting to the Warrnambool community.
Followed by a professional seminar 7.30-9pm Ginger Café and Bar, Deakin University.
April 6
Depart Warrnambool 9am riding to Portland - no public events.
April 7
Mt Gambier
Brain Bus arrives Mt Gambier 12.30 -3.30pm at Cave Gardens, Cnr Watson/Commercial Street East.
Riders arrive 3.30pm.
Mt Gambier Public Event 5.30-7pm, UniSA’s Bob and Gayle Coyle Auditorium,
Pain, Arthritis and Pavlov’s Dogs – Why we have to re-think Pain and what’s causing it? presented by a team of expert researchers and clinicians, supported by the International Spine Centre and the Department of Rural Health at UniSA.
April 8
Riders depart 7am for Murray Bridge
Brain Bus arrives 1-3pm at Sturt Reserve.
April 9
8.30am UniSA Rural Health Breakfast as part of the FloatFest, riders depart Murray Bridge at 9.15am.
Photo op as part of Floatfest.
Arrive Adelaide
2.45 at Adelaide Convention Centre for the Australian Pain Society meeting, brief talk and photo opportunity, official end of the ride.
