Body awareness therapy for patients with fibromyalgia and chronic pain

Abstract

There are several therapies designed to increase body awareness. They are commonly known as body awareness therapies (BAT) and include Basic BAT, Mensendieck and Feldenkrais therapy. A focus on emotions is important in all these therapies. In this article the aim and development of Basic BAT is described together with evaluations of treatments including Basic BAT. Multidisciplinary studies have shown that Basic BAT can increase health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness. However Basic BAT needs to be further studied in relation to patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic pain. Studies so far indicate that Basic BAT has positive effects.

A constant conversation: tuning into and harmonizing the needs and priorities of the body and mind

“…Patient education programmes such as body awareness therapy, which employ movements, breathing, massage, and awareness to try to restore balance, freedom, and unity of body and mind (Gard, 2005), have been explored for a variety of conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression (Danielsson & Rosberg, 2015; Eriksson, Möller, Söderberg, Eriksson, & Kurlberg, 2007; Gard, 2005). With regard to diabetes, there are efforts to develop patient education programmes aimed at increasing patients’ self-awareness, specifically through recognition of the symptoms that signify hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia for them (Hernandez, Bradish, Rodger, & Rybansky, 1999; Hernandez, Hume, & Rodger, 2008).…”

Investigation of relationship between body awareness, pain, emotional status and quality of life with healty people

“…Ayrıca beden farkındalık odaklı tedaviler içinde yer alan yoga özellikle İskandinav ülkelerinde kullanılan fiziksel vücut farkındalığı terapisinde uygulanmaktadır. [7,18,19] Yoganın bu anlamda beden farkındalığını üzerindeki olumlu etkilerini inceleyen ça-lışmalar da literatürde mevcuttur. Bu çalışmalarda da vücut farkındalığının geliştirilmesi gereken bir durum olduğu vurgulanmaktadır.…”

“…Diğer bir çalışmada Hävermark ve ark. [26] fibromiyaljili hastalar üzerinde vücut farkındalık tedavisinin [8] Gard [7] vücut farkındalık terapisinin kronik ağrılı hastalarda ağrıyı azaltmada olumlu sonuçlar verdiğini belirtmiştir.…”

“…[3][4][5] Literatürde daha çok fonksiyonel yetersizlik, fibromiyalji, anksiyete gibi sağlık sorunlarında kullanılan beden farkındalık tedavisi olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. [6,7] Tedavinin temel basamağı olan değerlendirme kısmı-nı oluşturması bakımından beden farkındalık düzeyi ölçümü önemli bir basamaktır.…”

The Effect of Body Awareness Therapy and Aerobic Exercises on Pain and Quality of Life in the Patients With Tension Type Headache

“…Also, it provides regain and enhancement of posture, balance and natural reflexes of motion to the body. By providing body (sensory) and mind (motor) integrity; a healthy and quality life, the tension occurring by stress and chronic pain are managed (Dittrich et al, 2008;Gard, 2005). BAT is widely used in the treatment of chronic pain rehabilitation (such as musculoskeletal diseases, fibromyalgia, headache, general chronic pain) and is still being improved (Dittrich et al, 2008;Roxendal 1985).…”