Developing self-care in an interdependent therapeutic relationship: Patients’ experiences from Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy

Abstract

Factors causing and sustaining long-lasting musculoskeletal pain differ between patients, but must be identified in order to target treatment. During physiotherapy, there are multiple factors influencing the treatment outcome. The focus in the present study was to grasp patients’ experiences of how social burdens influence the development and persistence of symptoms of muscle pain, and how the relationship with the physiotherapist influences the process of change during Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy. A phenomenological, descriptive, and retrospective design was chosen. Data were collected through focus-group interviews. Eleven patients participated. They ranged in age from 34 to 67 years. The analysis was inspired by Giorgi’s phenomenological method. The results identified a general, overarching structure; “Caring for others and developing self-care” and the two interwoven themes “Emerging awareness of overload” and “Receiving care from the physiotherapist.” These themes describe the essence of the experiences from the treatment process. To be recognized by the physiotherapist, both through the hands-on treatment and verbal communication, appears to be crucial for patients to develop an awareness of the factors causing and sustaining their pain problems. This awareness seemed necessary for the process of change to take place and for the patients to take more responsibility for their own care.