Pain - Why: A Guide for People with Pain

About Ben van Cranenburgh

Ben van Cranenburgh is neuroscientist. He was born in Haarlem the Netherlands and studied Medicine in Amsterdam after which he worked for seven years as scientific researcher in the Dutch Central Institute for Brain Research (currently Institute for Neuroscience). In 1973 he obtained a PHD in a neurophysiological subject: spontaneous neuronal activity in the normal brain and during development of atherosclerosis. This study showed changes in neuronal firing patterns in the brain affected by atherosclerosis. In the following years van Cranenburgh applied himself especially to development and innovation at higher education for Physiotherapy. Van Cranenburgh has always shown a special interest in teaching and education. In this context he published the visually oriented book Physiological Schematics a book which explains complex en difficult (neuro) physiological subjects in a visual-didactic manner. This book was significantly expanded in the following years. Van Cranenburgh lead clinical research into neuropsychological impairments among stroke patients in the Rehabilitation Centre in Amsterdam (RCA now called Reade) In 1987 he founded the Institute for Applied Neurosciences (ITON Foundation Haarlem) where he still works today. Since 2010 the ITON Foundation works in partnership with the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences of the Free University of Amsterdam (VU). The ITON Foundation has as its main purpose to screen developments in neurosciences in order to apply new theories and insights in various practical areas: neurorehabilitation therapy sport music and education. One core activity of the ITON Foundation is the annual course Neurorehabilitation (2 x 9 days: Part 1: Problem analysis; Part 2: Neuro-intervention). This course is aimed at professionals working with patients with brain damage (stroke trauma). This course has also been given in more than 80 institutes across The Netherlands and Belgium (hospitals rehabilitation centres nursing homes institutes for mentally handicapped). Another core subject is chronic pain for which also courses are offered either for individuals or pain teams. Van Cranenburgh developed many models and concepts which can be used in practice as a means to undertake a systematic problem analysis and design a treatment plan for brain damage or chronic pain. In 1996 the first volume of the series of textbooks Applied Neurosciences was published titled Neurosciences an overview. In subsequent years followed volume 2 Neuropsychology volume 3 Pain and volume 4 Neurorehabilitation. The latter was also translated into German. New updated editions were published in 2014. These books are used intensively in education (Universities and higher education) and in rehabilitation practice. Additionally Van Cranenburgh published many other books and articles for healthcare professionals and informative materials for patients with various subjects: chronic pain consequences of brain damage plasticity and restitution motor learning music and the brain neurorehabilitation in primary healthcare. He is working intensively with patients: in particular people with pain and stroke-patients. As a consequence most of his publications put the patient perspective at the centre. Van Cranenburgh is often invited as speaker at symposia congresses and courses in the Netherlands Belgium Germany and Switzerland. Ben van Cranenburgh lives in Haarlem in The Netherlands. He is an active sportsman (speed skating tennis mountain sports) and musician (clarinet piano and viola). His own experience in the area of sport and music play an important role in his recognition and understanding of the connection between the brain and behaviour.