“Erkjenne for å kunne endre” - pasienters erfaringer med endringsprosesser i fysioterapibehandling for langvarige muskelskjelettplager
Abstract
Background and aims: Persistent musculoskeletal pain is associated with complex causations, and a multifaceted treatment intervention based on a biopsychosocial understanding, is recommended. The objective of this study is to investigate what patients experience as significant changes when they have improved through physiotherapy treatment of this kind.
Methods: The study was based on an interpretive and pragmatic tradition. The data is extracted through semi-structured interviews with five patients during or after termination of their treatment for long-term musculoskeletal pain. The interview material was analysed through systematic text condensation, a step-by-step, cross-case, thematic content analysis.
Results: The experiences of the patients that was deemed meaningful was categorized in four categories of results: a) To be ready for change; b) the establishing of trust and communication characteristics; c) changing the meaning of thought patterns; d) exposure under guidance.
Conclusion: The main findings are changed understanding of ones pain; re-establishing activity and habits; increased attention to balancing activity and rest; challenging limits or slowing down; and trusting the therapist. There are parallells between these findings and previous, relevant studies on patients with long-term musculoskeletal pain, which makes the transferability to similar contexts plausible.