The first encounter with Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy: patients' experiences, a basis for knowledge

The intention of this study was to elucidate patients' experiences of the examination of the body given in Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy.

A qualitative approach was used, based on interviews with nine women and one man aged between 41 and 65 years. The data were analysed with the aid of grounded theory, using the first two steps: open and axial coding.

Three categories were identified from the patients' experiences. The first category "The Situation before Treatment", emerged from the subcategories "Prejudice concerning the prefix 'psycho"', "Difficulties in recognizing the body's information", and "The body is ambiguous". The second category, "Establishing the Relationship", emerged from the subcategories "Getting to know the therapist as an empathic person" and "Discovering professional skills". The third category, "Examination is Interaction", emerged from the subcategories "Dialogues--room for reflection", "Undress, the feeling of disclosure", and "Personal boundaries--good to be seen". These three categories emphasize the importance of cooperation between the physiotherapist and the patient in exploring the social and emotional context in order to understand the meaning of the body's symptoms. There must be no doubt about the skill and competence of the therapists, including their insight, personal responsibility, engagement, attentiveness, and awareness.

Our material reflects the great impact the body examination had on the informants. Examination requires mutual interpretation. The patients' knowledge represents a significant potential for understanding of their own situation.