[How can women with chronic muscular pain change their bodily habits?].
BACKGROUND
Each person develops their own posture and patterns of movement; our bodies are marked by the life we live. Our ways of being imply that the body is used and strained in different ways, and these habits are decisive for what kind of functional problems we may develop. A group-based treatment programme for women with chronic muscular pain includes movement training and group discussions once a week over the course of ten months, aimed at changing straining bodily habits. The study explores what the participants appreciate as meaningful and beneficial effects of this programme.


METHODS
A treatment group of ten women with long-lasting chronic muscular pain was organised at the start of the 21st century. Seven of them completed the programme. Transcriptions from individual interviews with the participants were analysed using a phenomenological analysis.


RESULTS
The participants made new bodily experiences, changed their bodily habits and developed strategies for handling stress and pain in daily life.


CONCLUSIONS
Group treatment may be a beneficial offer in primary care to women with chronic muscular pain.
Steihaug
Sissel
S
SINTEF Helse, Forskningsveien 1, 0373 Oslo. sissel@steihaug.net
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016387:Women's Health