I have been working as a physiotherapist and movement scientist for over 30 years as both a practitioner and researcher in the field of chronic pain. Chronic pain is a significant issue, including for patients with neuromuscular diseases. Unfortunately, no treatment currently exists that can fully resolve chronic pain. Chronic pain is complex, with multiple factors (both physical and psychosocial) playing a role. It therefore requires a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach. The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Maastricht University has extensive experience in multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain. However, a multidisciplinary approach to pain in neuromuscular diseases is still in its early stages.

To address this, research has been initiated to map the severity and nature of the pain problem as well as the key factors sustaining it in patients with neuromuscular diseases. Based on these findings, targeted treatment programs can be developed, tailoring the therapy to the individual characteristics of the patient and their specific pain problem.