title: Better or Worse: a Study of Day-to-Day Changes over Five Months of Rosen Method Bodywork Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluctuations of good days and bad days-in physical symptoms and emotional states-are common for individuals with chronic illness. This pilot study examines these fluctuations during bodywork treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed changes in daily self-reports over a period of five months for five individuals who received weekly treatments of Rosen Method Bodywork (RMB), which uses touch and words to enhance body awareness of physical sensations and emotional states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five subjects (aged 31-56) who had chronic low back pain (CLBP) received 16 weekly treatments given by three experienced RMB practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and posttreatment assessments covered demographics, disability, and pain. Clients also completed daily bedtime assessments of pain, fatigue, emotional state, and sense of control during the entire treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All clients reported reductions in pain and/or disability in post- compared to pretreatment. In spite of a high level of day-to-day variability in the daily assessments, there were significant reductions in pain and fatigue, and significant increases in positive emotional state and sense of control across the treatment period. In reaching this end, however, some clients had slow and steady improvements, some improved more rapidly, while others got worse before they got better.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The natural course of healing-with its inevitable fluctuations in symptoms-is part of a process leading to successful treatment outcomes. Rosen Method Bodywork may be especially helpful in developing and accepting both sensory and emotional body awareness changes that facilitate overall improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fogel
keywords: Rosen Method Bodywork; chronic low back pain; emotion; fatigue; pain; sense of control