title: Effects of Feldenkrais method on chronic neck/scapular pain in people with visual impairment: a randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the Feldenkrais method is an effective intervention for chronic neck/scapular pain in patients with visual impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial with an untreated control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Low vision center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=61) with visual impairment (mean, 53.3 y) and nonspecific chronic (mean, 23.8 y) neck/scapular pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to the Feldenkrais method group (n=30) or untreated control group (n=31). Patients in the treatment group underwent one 2-hour Feldenkrais method session per week for 12 consecutive weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blind assessment of perceived pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) during physical therapist palpation of the left and right occipital, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae muscle areas; self-assessed degree of pain on the Visual, Musculoskeletal, and Balance Complaints questionnaire; and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey bodily pain scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients undergoing Feldenkrais method reported significantly less pain than the controls according to the VAS and Visual, Musculoskeletal, and Balance Complaints questionnaire ratings at posttreatment follow-up and 1-year follow-up. There were no significant differences regarding the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey bodily pain scale ratings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Feldenkrais method is an effective intervention for chronic neck/scapular pain in patients with visual impairment.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Örebro County Council, Örebro, Sweden; School of Law, Psychology, and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: lars-olov.lundqvist@orebroll.se.
authors.forename: Lars-Olov
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lundqvist
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Örebro County Council, Örebro, Sweden; School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; The Low Vision Centre, Örebro County Council, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zetterlund
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D001945:Breathing Exercises; D059350:Chronic Pain; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005864:Gestalt Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Neck pain; Randomized controlled trials; Rehabilitation; Treatment outcome; Visual impairment