Book excerpt: This book presents an interpretation of the nature of musculoskeletal pain. It describes aclassification system for assessment and treatmentof musculoskeletal pain with emphasison patient education and active exercise. Thisapproach to musculoskeletal pain has grownout of theoretical considerations supported bydifferent levels of research and based on clinicalobservations for the last 16 years at the RehabilitationInstitute of Chicago. Rather than offeringanother technique, this approach provides youwith principles carried forward and supported byresearch in how to educate and guide exercise foryour patients who suffer from musculoskeletalpain. This book is unique in that it is intendedto serve both the clinicians who treat and thepatients who suffer from musculoskeletal painthrough education about pain mechanisms andthe active care associated with them.