Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy and patients with chronic pain: patients' perspective on body awareness.

This study has explored the experience of body awareness in patients with chronic pain as well as possible changes in this phenomenon as a consequence of Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy (NPMP), were explored in the present study. Four focus group interviews were performed. Two groups consisted of patients on waiting lists for NPMP, whereas the other two were patients receiving NPMP. The interview material was analysed according to an ad hoc meaning generation. The interviews brought out three main themes of body awareness: being aware of one's own body; associations about one's own body; and feelings for one's own body. The differences and similarities in body awareness described by those receiving treatment and those on waiting lists are presented and discussed, as well as differences between participants within the groups. The patients' experiences ranged from a reduction of symptoms and coping quite well with chronic pain, to a feeling of being totally stuck in pain, followed by either a new body awareness or being preoccupied by pain. The participants receiving long-term NPMP--with one exception--experienced new body awareness, described as essential to increasing their ability to cope with pain.