The Spanish Pain Society (SED) has just published «Digital Health and Pain. A Guide for Professionals 2026», a free and open-access work offering an applied, evidence-based overview of digital technologies in pain management. The guide was co-edited by José Antonio Moral Muñoz, member of the Pain Observatory and Associate Professor in the Physiotherapy department at the University of Cádiz. Additionally, our colleague Marta Moreno Ligero is the author of one of its chapters.
A guide to understanding digital health applied to pain
Chronic pain affects more than 9 million people in Spain, according to data from the Chronic Pain Barometer compiled by the Observatory itself. In this context, the integration of digital tools into pain management — from health apps to artificial intelligence and extended reality — represents both an opportunity and a challenge that requires rigorous analysis.
«Digital Health and Pain. A Guide for Professionals 2026», developed by the SEDTech Working Group of the Spanish Pain Society, was presented at the 22nd SED National Congress (SEDOLOR26). It offers a practical and critical synthesis of the available evidence, designed to guide healthcare professionals in the responsible use of these technologies.
Guide contents
The publication reviews the main technological areas with an impact on pain management:
- Fundamentals and key concepts of digital health
- Digital therapies and their integration into clinical practice
- Telemedicine and telerehabilitation applied to pain management
- Digital monitoring and patient follow-up
- Extended reality (XR) and its clinical applications
- Artificial intelligence and clinical decision support
- Regulatory and ethical aspects and future challenges
The guide maintains a critical stance toward technological innovation, emphasising that technology only delivers real value when it addresses specific clinical needs and improves people’s health outcomes.
Authorship team
The work has been developed by ten professionals with expertise in pain and digital health.
Free download
Available in open access for all healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and anyone interested in pain management.
▶ Direct PDF download: Salud Digital y Dolor 2026 (PDF)
▶ Original news on the SED: sedolor.es — Ver noticia completa
Descarga gratuita de la guía
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