Skip to main content

Rehabilitation for Amplified Pain Syndromes (RAPS) Program

Resources

Free guide to learn about treatment guidelines for RAPS

StopChildhoodPain.org is run by The Childhood RND Educational Foundation, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating health professionals and families who deal with AMPS.

Treatment for amplified pain syndromes


The Rehabilitation for Amplified Pain Syndromes (RAPS) program is a multidisciplinary service that treats children with severe pain and disability. RAPS provides an effective solution for patients who have tried outpatient treatment methods but are still unable to function normally. 

RAPS program


The RAPS program, on average, is 4-6 weeks depending on each patient's unique needs. Our staff members guide patients through daily activities to help restore normal function. Activities include intensive physical and occupational therapy, relaxation techniques, stress-management training, and music and therapeutic art. Individual and group therapy is also provided to support patients throughout the program.

RAPS staff


Our team is specially trained to treat patients with a broad range of complex pain syndromes. Specialists from several clinical areas work together to provide comprehensive patient care. These specialty areas include pediatric rheumatology, physical and occupational therapy, and pediatric psychology.

 

Program highlights

 

  • Our program provides comprehensive treatment for patients experiencing chronic pain.

  • Patients work to restore normal function, including school attendance, playing sports, and socializing. 

  • Patients will learn tools to help relieve emotional distress related to pain as well as how to self-manage pain flares. 

  • Conditions we commonly treat include complex regional pain syndrome, primary juvenile fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and central pain sensitization syndrome.

Accommodations

 

Many families stay at the Ronald McDonald House during RAPS, and there are local area hotels that offer discounted hospital rates. Our clinic social worker is available to help provide information and resources for places to stay during RAPS. Learn more about the Ronald McDonald House.

Clinical Services

Pool therapy


Pool therapy takes place once a day. Pool activities include water aerobics, weighted laps in shallow water while hopping or running, laps with a kickboard, upper-body exercises with hand paddles, and water polo.
 

Yoga 


Patients will participate in yoga three times a week. Yoga stretches muscles and soft tissue and increases the range of motion in joints. It increase body awareness, improves balance and coordination, strengthens core muscles, and improves posture. Each yoga session will also include restorative postures with the use of props. Yoga also emphasizes deep breathing, which stimulates the body's relaxation response. 

Group music therapy, group therapeutic art, and self-regulation 


Music therapy may include music-assisted relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation, and expression through music production. Therapeutic art provided by Child Life Specialists explores the creative process through various mediums. Self-regulation may include relaxed breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and other strategies. 

"Talk time" 


All children have talk time to help support the patient’s amplified pain treatment, increase coping, and explore stressors. This occurs in individual sessions with the psychologist as well as in small group sessions. Group Talk Time is an opportunity for patients to all come together in a semi-structured group setting to provide support to each other, share coping strategies, discuss similarities and differences in experiences, and have fun.

Occupational and physical therapy 


Patients are seen one-on-one, with occasional paired sessions for five - six hours a day. Timed activities are used to measure functional progress such as running, negotiating stairs, stepping in and out of a bathtub, and carrying a load around an obstacle course. Non-timed activities include full body exercises, endurance tasks, self-care tasks, school related activities, and community outing. Quality of movement is continuously monitored. Therapists select Endurance exercises based on the patient’s interest, independence, and symptoms. Pain regions are treated with contrast baths, towel rubs, ice massage, lotion massage, vibration, etc. 

Home activities


On week nights, patients will independently perform a daily home program composed of stretching activities. On the weekends, patients will complete an intense home program including desensitization, aerobic exercise, and strengthening activities provided by physical and occupational therapists. Patients are strongly encouraged to pick active recreational activities such as walking, shopping, playing/practicing their normal sports, or sightseeing in the evenings and weekends. 

School work


Schoolwork is generally on hold and make-up work is completed once the child returns to the classroom. We will assist in getting the school to help make re-entry as smooth as possible.

Conditions

  • Complex regional pain syndrome

  • Primary juvenile fibromyalgia

  • Neuropathic pain

  • Central pain sensitization syndrome