From sick leave back to everyday life and work – patient experiences with Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: To explore patients on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders and mental health issues’ experiences with changes in function during psychomotor physiotherapy, and the significance of these changes for everyday life and work. Methods: A qualitative research design was chosen, utilizing a phenomenological and hermeneutic approach. Data collection was done through individual, semi-structured interviews. Systematic text condensation was used for data analysis. Findings: The analysis led to three result categories: «When the body becomes an obstacle to participation in everyday life and work», «The treatment room opens up for insight, contact, awareness - a starting point for change» and «Bodily signals provide room for choice, self-care and coping». Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders and mental health issues can limit one’s life both in everyday life and at work. Psychomotor physiotherapy contributed to better contact with the body and increased understanding of its functions, enabling participants to adapt to their own needs and set boundaries. Strategies such as short breaks, reducing work pace and focusing on one task at a time helped to achieve a better balance between work demands and resources at work, and helped them manage tasks they had both in everyday life and at work.

Keywords

• psychomotor physiotherapy
• musculoskeletal disorders
• mental health issues
• everyday life
• work