Dr Rod Rizzo, PhD
@rodrizzo-pain.bsky.social
Pain Science | Digital Health | Evidence-based Healthcare | AI | Translating Pain Science into Clinical Care | Clinical Hypnosis in Pain | NeuRA | @UNSW
#Pain #EvidenceBasedPractice #Brain #Movement #Hypnosis
#Pain #EvidenceBasedPractice #Brain #Movement #Hypnosis
Pinned
Imagine leaving your GP appointment with immediate access to a non-pharmacological intervention that fits in your pocket.
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
🧠 When “hope” and “advice” can get in the way of recovery
Many people with chronic pain have been trying to get rid of their pain for a very long time. They’re often tired.
So instead of asking for effort, belief, or optimism, how about:
Close your eyes and take a rest while your hear my voice
Many people with chronic pain have been trying to get rid of their pain for a very long time. They’re often tired.
So instead of asking for effort, belief, or optimism, how about:
Close your eyes and take a rest while your hear my voice
December 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
🧠 When “hope” and “advice” can get in the way of recovery
Many people with chronic pain have been trying to get rid of their pain for a very long time. They’re often tired.
So instead of asking for effort, belief, or optimism, how about:
Close your eyes and take a rest while your hear my voice
Many people with chronic pain have been trying to get rid of their pain for a very long time. They’re often tired.
So instead of asking for effort, belief, or optimism, how about:
Close your eyes and take a rest while your hear my voice
Happy to be nominated for the UNSW 2025 Research High Impact Partnership Award by the Faculty of Medicine.
Big thank you to the Centre for Pain IMPACT , UNSW Medicine & Health and all collaborators.
#unsw #pain #evidencebasedhealthcare
Big thank you to the Centre for Pain IMPACT , UNSW Medicine & Health and all collaborators.
#unsw #pain #evidencebasedhealthcare
December 3, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Happy to be nominated for the UNSW 2025 Research High Impact Partnership Award by the Faculty of Medicine.
Big thank you to the Centre for Pain IMPACT , UNSW Medicine & Health and all collaborators.
#unsw #pain #evidencebasedhealthcare
Big thank you to the Centre for Pain IMPACT , UNSW Medicine & Health and all collaborators.
#unsw #pain #evidencebasedhealthcare
🔥We scanned the lower leg muscles of 192 healthy children aged 5 to 15 years old using MRI. We wanted to understand how the muscles in the lower leg grow as children get older.
🎯Now we can identify when a child’s muscles are not growing as expected.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🎯Now we can identify when a child’s muscles are not growing as expected.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Architecture of lower leg muscles in children: Reference curves and potential mechanisms of growth
Muscle architecture (physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle lengths and pennation angle) was measured from multimodal MRI scans of the lower legs of 197 children aged ≤15 years. We showed that ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
🔥We scanned the lower leg muscles of 192 healthy children aged 5 to 15 years old using MRI. We wanted to understand how the muscles in the lower leg grow as children get older.
🎯Now we can identify when a child’s muscles are not growing as expected.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🎯Now we can identify when a child’s muscles are not growing as expected.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🎯Great to see how physiotherapy students responded to the Knowledge of Pain Board Game. Game-based learning continues to show its value in helping future clinicians grasp complex biopsychosocial pain concepts in low- and middle-income countries.
#painscience #physiotherapy #university #education
#painscience #physiotherapy #university #education
November 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
🎯Great to see how physiotherapy students responded to the Knowledge of Pain Board Game. Game-based learning continues to show its value in helping future clinicians grasp complex biopsychosocial pain concepts in low- and middle-income countries.
#painscience #physiotherapy #university #education
#painscience #physiotherapy #university #education
It is possible to facilitate a person’s ability to imagine, and it is also possible to guide someone toward experiencing a positive hallucination. Hallucinations differ from ordinary imagination. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Beyond imagination: Hypnotic visual hallucination induces greater lateralised brain activity than visual mental imagery
Hypnotic suggestions can produce a broad range of perceptual experiences, including hallucinations. Visual hypnotic hallucinations differ in many ways…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
It is possible to facilitate a person’s ability to imagine, and it is also possible to guide someone toward experiencing a positive hallucination. Hallucinations differ from ordinary imagination. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🎉Seven years since I sold the Institute of #Movement and #PainManagement.
Assessment, screening for the right care pathway, pain management programs, and physical-activity plans tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Chapter closed… to open a new one in Australia. ✨
#Anniversary
Assessment, screening for the right care pathway, pain management programs, and physical-activity plans tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Chapter closed… to open a new one in Australia. ✨
#Anniversary
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 AM
🎉Seven years since I sold the Institute of #Movement and #PainManagement.
Assessment, screening for the right care pathway, pain management programs, and physical-activity plans tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Chapter closed… to open a new one in Australia. ✨
#Anniversary
Assessment, screening for the right care pathway, pain management programs, and physical-activity plans tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Chapter closed… to open a new one in Australia. ✨
#Anniversary
Research Data infrastructure in the digital era with Jodie Austin at the ACTA 2025 Clinical Trials and Registries Symposium. It was great to see how the SMART hub is collecting reliable health data in Queensland.
#clinicaltrials #digitalhealth #AI
#clinicaltrials #digitalhealth #AI
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Research Data infrastructure in the digital era with Jodie Austin at the ACTA 2025 Clinical Trials and Registries Symposium. It was great to see how the SMART hub is collecting reliable health data in Queensland.
#clinicaltrials #digitalhealth #AI
#clinicaltrials #digitalhealth #AI
✈️Heading to the ACTA 2025 Clinical Trials in Melbourne this week. We will discuss efficient ways of conducting clinical trials, particularly in the era of #digitalhealth and #AI.
🎯See the first three presentations of the program!
🎯See the first three presentations of the program!
November 16, 2025 at 11:24 PM
✈️Heading to the ACTA 2025 Clinical Trials in Melbourne this week. We will discuss efficient ways of conducting clinical trials, particularly in the era of #digitalhealth and #AI.
🎯See the first three presentations of the program!
🎯See the first three presentations of the program!
This trial, published at @thelancet.com, showed that a fully self-guided digital behavioural program improved pain and function in people with fibromyalgia versus an active control
A significant step toward accessible, scalable care
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38991582/
#ChronicPain #DigitalHealth
A significant step toward accessible, scalable care
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38991582/
#ChronicPain #DigitalHealth
Self-guided digital behavioural therapy versus active control for fibromyalgia (PROSPER-FM): a phase 3, multicentre, randomised controlled trial - PubMed
Swing Therapeutics.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 14, 2025 at 4:44 AM
This trial, published at @thelancet.com, showed that a fully self-guided digital behavioural program improved pain and function in people with fibromyalgia versus an active control
A significant step toward accessible, scalable care
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38991582/
#ChronicPain #DigitalHealth
A significant step toward accessible, scalable care
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38991582/
#ChronicPain #DigitalHealth
➡️ More alternatives (suggestions) = higher likelihood of choosing an NSAID over the opioid in a situation of chronic low back pain flare-up.
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Multiple Suggested Care Alternatives and Decision-Making of PCPs
This randomized clinical trial investigates whether providing primary care physicians (PCPs) with 1 vs 2 or more appropriate treatment alternatives in a choice set has an effect on the odds that they ...
jamanetwork.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:29 PM
➡️ More alternatives (suggestions) = higher likelihood of choosing an NSAID over the opioid in a situation of chronic low back pain flare-up.
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Strong evidence for scalable care #hypnosis #digitalhealth
A new participant’s-blinded randomised controlled trial in JAMA Network Open found that self-administered audio clinical hypnosis led to a meaningful reduction in hot flashes (53% vs 41% with sham).
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
A new participant’s-blinded randomised controlled trial in JAMA Network Open found that self-administered audio clinical hypnosis led to a meaningful reduction in hot flashes (53% vs 41% with sham).
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Self-Administered Hypnosis vs Sham Hypnosis for Hot Flashes
This randomized clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of a self-administered hypnosis intervention for hot flashes compared with a self-administered sham hypnosis control and evaluates the efficacy of...
jamanetwork.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Strong evidence for scalable care #hypnosis #digitalhealth
A new participant’s-blinded randomised controlled trial in JAMA Network Open found that self-administered audio clinical hypnosis led to a meaningful reduction in hot flashes (53% vs 41% with sham).
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
A new participant’s-blinded randomised controlled trial in JAMA Network Open found that self-administered audio clinical hypnosis led to a meaningful reduction in hot flashes (53% vs 41% with sham).
🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
A meta-analysis (137 studies, n = 12,966) found that touch improves pain, mood, anxiety, and cortisol regulation. Although human touch might be more beneficial, even robot-delivered touch showed physical benefits.
#PainResearch #MentalHealth #Neuroscience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PainResearch #MentalHealth #Neuroscience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A meta-analysis (137 studies, n = 12,966) found that touch improves pain, mood, anxiety, and cortisol regulation. Although human touch might be more beneficial, even robot-delivered touch showed physical benefits.
#PainResearch #MentalHealth #Neuroscience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#PainResearch #MentalHealth #Neuroscience
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🚨We showed that hypnosis can ease pain fast—and lasting relief might need a change in how we think about pain. 🧠 Understanding what drives short- vs long-term effects helps refine hypnotic suggestions.
#ChronicPain #Research #hypnosis
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34048108/
#ChronicPain #Research #hypnosis
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34048108/
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 PM
🚨We showed that hypnosis can ease pain fast—and lasting relief might need a change in how we think about pain. 🧠 Understanding what drives short- vs long-term effects helps refine hypnotic suggestions.
#ChronicPain #Research #hypnosis
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34048108/
#ChronicPain #Research #hypnosis
🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34048108/
“The digital intervention was associated with annual per-person savings of $2025.7 in MSK care (95% CI, 1362.0-2689.4; P<.001) and $2369.5 in total health care (95% CI, 1305.4-3433.7) versus comparator group.” www.archives-pmr.org/article/S000...
Economic Impact of Digital Musculoskeletal Care Versus In-person Physical Therapy: A US Claims Analysis of Health Care Utilization and Outcomes
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are the leading cause of years lived with disability
worldwide1-4 and affect over half of the US population, resulting in chronic pain,
poor mental health, and work ab...
www.archives-pmr.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 AM
“The digital intervention was associated with annual per-person savings of $2025.7 in MSK care (95% CI, 1362.0-2689.4; P<.001) and $2369.5 in total health care (95% CI, 1305.4-3433.7) versus comparator group.” www.archives-pmr.org/article/S000...
A few years ago, I reviewed the science behind biopsychosocial models and pain neurophysiology. With experts in game design and lived experience, we turned that knowledge into the world’s first pain education board game. 🎲✨
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
November 5, 2025 at 9:33 AM
A few years ago, I reviewed the science behind biopsychosocial models and pain neurophysiology. With experts in game design and lived experience, we turned that knowledge into the world’s first pain education board game. 🎲✨
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
A few years ago, I reviewed the science behind biopsychosocial models and pain neurophysiology. With experts in game design and lived experience, we turned that knowledge into the world’s first pain education board game. 🎲✨
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
November 5, 2025 at 9:11 AM
A few years ago, I reviewed the science behind biopsychosocial models and pain neurophysiology. With experts in game design and lived experience, we turned that knowledge into the world’s first pain education board game. 🎲✨
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
Now, it will be available in English!
#PainEducation #Innovation
🎵 Can music improve sleep quality?
A Cochrane review found: listening to prerecorded #music daily for 25–60 minutes over periods of three days-three months led to moderate-certainty evidence of better #sleepquality.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000763/
#EvidenceBasedPractice #CochraneReview
A Cochrane review found: listening to prerecorded #music daily for 25–60 minutes over periods of three days-three months led to moderate-certainty evidence of better #sleepquality.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000763/
#EvidenceBasedPractice #CochraneReview
November 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🎵 Can music improve sleep quality?
A Cochrane review found: listening to prerecorded #music daily for 25–60 minutes over periods of three days-three months led to moderate-certainty evidence of better #sleepquality.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000763/
#EvidenceBasedPractice #CochraneReview
A Cochrane review found: listening to prerecorded #music daily for 25–60 minutes over periods of three days-three months led to moderate-certainty evidence of better #sleepquality.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36000763/
#EvidenceBasedPractice #CochraneReview
Reposted by Dr Rod Rizzo, PhD
1/🧵 Out today in @frontiersin.bsky.social : “Consciousness science: where are we, where are we going, and what if we get there?” By @axc.bsky.social @liadmudrik.bsky.social, & me (a CIFAR & @erc.europa.eu production 🧠). www.frontiersin.org/journals/sci...
Advancing consciousness science
Defining new directions in consciousness research and exploring implications for medicine, technology, and ethics
www.frontiersin.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
1/🧵 Out today in @frontiersin.bsky.social : “Consciousness science: where are we, where are we going, and what if we get there?” By @axc.bsky.social @liadmudrik.bsky.social, & me (a CIFAR & @erc.europa.eu production 🧠). www.frontiersin.org/journals/sci...
Imagine leaving your GP appointment with immediate access to a non-pharmacological intervention that fits in your pocket.
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
October 31, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Imagine leaving your GP appointment with immediate access to a non-pharmacological intervention that fits in your pocket.
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
UNSW #SDGShowcase: we shared how we combine education and clinical #hypnosis to retrain the #pain system for lasting change.
#ChronicPain #Innovation #digitalhealth
Are clinicians reassuring their patients — or only themselves? 🧠
There are better ways to say “Your MRI is completely normal.”
👉 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39428652/%EF...
#PainCommunication #ClinicianPatientRelationship
There are better ways to say “Your MRI is completely normal.”
👉 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39428652/%EF...
#PainCommunication #ClinicianPatientRelationship
'The MRI-scan says it is completely normal': Reassurance attempts in clinical encounters among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain - PubMed
In clinical guidelines for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, reassurance is a key element. The purpose of reassuring patients is to change their views on their illness and, thereby, their actions. However, when symptoms persist without pathological findings, reassurance can be difficult to …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
October 30, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Are clinicians reassuring their patients — or only themselves? 🧠
There are better ways to say “Your MRI is completely normal.”
👉 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39428652/%EF...
#PainCommunication #ClinicianPatientRelationship
There are better ways to say “Your MRI is completely normal.”
👉 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39428652/%EF...
#PainCommunication #ClinicianPatientRelationship
What immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers SUGGESTS to newborns? It suggests safety, and the system responds accordingly. #cochrane #love
www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
Strong evidence supports skin-to-skin contact after birth as standard care | Cochrane
www.cochrane.org
October 22, 2025 at 12:34 PM
What immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers SUGGESTS to newborns? It suggests safety, and the system responds accordingly. #cochrane #love
www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
www.cochrane.org/about-us/new...
Our research team will present the NOTUS project on the Sustainable Development Goals Showcase at UNSW next week. Everyone is welcome. Get tickets: www.unsw.edu.au/edi/sustaina...
October 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Our research team will present the NOTUS project on the Sustainable Development Goals Showcase at UNSW next week. Everyone is welcome. Get tickets: www.unsw.edu.au/edi/sustaina...
🧠Pioneered study: Hypnosis Enhances the Effects of Pain Education in Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Open access paper: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29654980/
#mind-body #pain #chronicpain #hypnosis #PainResearch
#mind-body #pain #chronicpain #hypnosis #PainResearch
October 21, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🧠Pioneered study: Hypnosis Enhances the Effects of Pain Education in Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Open access paper: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29654980/
#mind-body #pain #chronicpain #hypnosis #PainResearch
#mind-body #pain #chronicpain #hypnosis #PainResearch
The total treatment effect is preventive for prostate cancer
but harmful for other causes of death. Can the benefit in prevention be explained by the missing data from people who died from other causes? Causal Mediation in Time-to-event Analysis at @causalab.bsky.social
but harmful for other causes of death. Can the benefit in prevention be explained by the missing data from people who died from other causes? Causal Mediation in Time-to-event Analysis at @causalab.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 3:55 AM
The total treatment effect is preventive for prostate cancer
but harmful for other causes of death. Can the benefit in prevention be explained by the missing data from people who died from other causes? Causal Mediation in Time-to-event Analysis at @causalab.bsky.social
but harmful for other causes of death. Can the benefit in prevention be explained by the missing data from people who died from other causes? Causal Mediation in Time-to-event Analysis at @causalab.bsky.social
Which non-drug 💊 & non-surgical 🛑 treatments help with #BackPain?
Our new Cochrane Review breaks down what works and what doesn’t.
For clinicians, researchers, & anyone affected by pain!
🔗: cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
#LowBackPain #pain #cochrane #exercise #acupuncture #yoga #pilates
Our new Cochrane Review breaks down what works and what doesn’t.
For clinicians, researchers, & anyone affected by pain!
🔗: cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
#LowBackPain #pain #cochrane #exercise #acupuncture #yoga #pilates
April 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Which non-drug 💊 & non-surgical 🛑 treatments help with #BackPain?
Our new Cochrane Review breaks down what works and what doesn’t.
For clinicians, researchers, & anyone affected by pain!
🔗: cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
#LowBackPain #pain #cochrane #exercise #acupuncture #yoga #pilates
Our new Cochrane Review breaks down what works and what doesn’t.
For clinicians, researchers, & anyone affected by pain!
🔗: cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
#LowBackPain #pain #cochrane #exercise #acupuncture #yoga #pilates