Fysioterapeuten (May 2011)
Pain reduction by the use of psychomotor physiotherapy? A prospective single-group study
Abstract
Aim: Because over half of patients seeking psychomotor physiotherapy (PMF) report having significant low back pain (LBP), we investigated quantitative changes in pain intensity, flexibility and relaxation as well as the function of transverses abdominis (TrA). Design: A prospective one group pre- post design Material: Patients (n =12; 10 women and 2 men) with significant unspecific LBP from a waiting list for psychomotor physiotherapy were recruited and included. Methode: Patients were tested before and after 12 treatment sessions with PMF during four months. Pain intensity (NRS), flexibility and relaxation (GFM-52) and TrA (UL-scanning) were assessed. Paired t-tests were used for continuous data. Results: Nine of the 12 patients showed clinical significant improvement in pain intensity following treatment. All had improved scores on the GFM-52, and the UL-scanning indicated that ten patients had improved their ability to contract TrA isolated. Improvements in pain and in flexibility and relaxation were all statistical significantly reduced, while this was not the case for the improvement in TrA-function. Conclusion: Measured improvements in pain intensity and bodily changes can be found in patients with unspecific LBP after treatment with PMF. Keywords: Psychomotor physiotherapy, pain intensity, measurable bodily changes
