Fysioterapeuten (Feb 2022)
Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy or pandemic band aid? Experiences with the use of video consultation in psychomotor practice
Abstract
Purpose: The study examines the experiences of physiotherapists with an expertise in psychomotor skills concerning the use of video consultation in treatment during the pandemic and the lockdown in 2020. Method: Four in-depth interviews were conducted with physiotherapists with an expertise in psychomotor skills, all of whom used video consultation in their professional practice. Findings: The therapists experienced that video consultation are suitable for patients they already had built a working relationship with. They also experienced that it became difficult to capture the body language of the patients only using video consultation, and that it was a professional loss not to use a physical treatment room for activity and interaction as under ‘normal’ circumstances. The informants believed that it was possible for the patients to experience bodily happenings when recapturing what they had experienced with the therapist in earlier treatment sessions. This provided opportunities for therapists to thematize bodily ways of knowing during video consultation. Conclusion: The study indicate that video consultation can offer an alternative in psychomotor physiotherapy, that it can make psychomotor physiotherapy more accessible to people, and that it contributes in the development of, and investment in, digital tools in the health and care sector. Furthermore, the study shows that video consultation can enhance tailoring of psychomotor physiotherapy based on individual needs and provide different treatment arenas.
