This is a part of podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Disorders of Consciousness. Physical Therapist Beth Hansen explains how rehabilitation teams assess pain, stress, and tolerance during therapy for people with disorders of consciousness. 

I think that we, the therapists are very mindful of the patient's response to their treatments. We monitor their vital signs. We watch their facial expressions. We use a pain scale that's specific for this patient population so that we can identify when a patient is in pain and address it. But these patients can do a lot more, I think, than anyone realizes. So we do try to push them. We do try to get them through a full intensive rehab program. There are times when we might have to back off, so if their blood pressure is dropping or it seems like they're having more of that increased muscle tone, then we might need to give them a break or reposition or relieve some pain that is there. But most of these patients are fully capable of participating fully. 

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