We are trying to assist new Doctors of Philosophy to get their findings ‘out there’ by including them here. We will put up a really quick summary, written by the New Doctor and, wherever possible, a link to where the thesis can be downloaded. We think this is a good way of both supporting new researchers and skipping the usual lag in getting brand new stuff ‘out there’. The first cab off the rank is Christina Schön-Ohlsson.
If you are, or have, a recently graduated PhD, and would like us to publicise your work, please, send a summary like Christina’s to info@BodyinMind.org. Also include a brief bio and a photo. Oh, and be prepared for us to suggest a couple of editing changes if we think it needs it.
Back to oneself, sensory motor learning applied in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain
This thesis includes four separate studies all on patients with NSCLBP
Christina Schön-Ohlsson
Background: The term nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) refers to cases in which neither the persistent pain symptoms nor the related physical dysfunction are related to structural impairment or disease. NSCLBP accounts for 80 % of cases of chronic low back pain.
Experiments and results: In one of the four studies, patients with NSCLBP who previously had not been helped by any treatment, were randomised to sensory- motor learning (SML) intervention and to exercise therapy (ET). Focus groups were used to compare how the two identical groups of patients expressed their experiences from the two different interventions. Major differences were indentified. The patients in the SML group expressed that they had learned to trust in themselves and now felt able to handle their low back pain themselves. This was in contrast to the patients in the ET group who expressed insecurity and dependence on advice from back-pain experts.
Interpretation: Based on the results; a hypothesis was generated stating that SML can enable patients with NSCLBP to increase control over their back pain and promote health by guiding them – back to oneself – in the sense of starting to rely on themselves and their bodily awareness.
Implications for practice: Sensory-motor learning, which has its roots in the Feldenkrais method is an efficient intervention for patients with nonspecific chronic pain problems.
About Christina:
Dr Christina Schön-Ohlsson is a registered physiotherapist in Sweden. She has professional training in Feldenkrais and in Psychosynthesis. She has just completed and successfully defended (well done!) her PhD thesis, which she did through the Department of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, The Sahlgrenska Academy; Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology.
A copy of this thesis can be downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/2077/21478
e-mail: christina.schon-ohlsson@gu.se
Schön-Ohlsson CU, Willén JA, & Johnels BE (2006). Optoelectronic movement analysis to measure motor performance in patients with chronic low back pain: test of reliability. Journal of rehabilitation medicine , 38 (6), 360-7 PMID: 17067969
Schön-Ohlsson CU, Willén JA, & Johnels BE (2005). Sensory motor learning in patients with chronic low back pain: a prospective pilot study using optoelectronic movement analysis. Spine, 30 (17) PMID: 16135974