Getting a handle on chronic pain

Chronic pain has a significant impact on the physical, social and emotional functioning of those who suffer from it. It is also notoriously challenging to diagnose and treat, because pain is such a subjective experience. Scientists at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) have developed a new tool that will give doctors an objective way to evaluate a patient's pain level. This in turn will enable them to tailor more targeted treatments and monitor their effectiveness over time. How we move is an excellent indicator of overall health. When we feel good, we move around continually. When we're in pain, we reduce our physical activity.