Behavioral Medicine Physiotherapy in the Context of Return to Work for Chronic Pain: A Single-Case Experimental Design Study

Hedvig Zetterberg, Ida Flink, Sören Spörndly-Nees, Sofia Wagner, Rolf Karlsten and Pernilla Åsenlöf
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Hedvig Zetterberg: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Ida Flink: The Center for Health and Medical Psychology, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
Sören Spörndly-Nees: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Sofia Wagner: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Rolf Karlsten: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
Pernilla Åsenlöf: Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: Effective interventions are needed for return-to-work (RTW) for individuals with chronic pain on long-term sick leave. In this study, a behavioral medicine physiotherapy protocol was systematically replicated and added to workplace components. The intervention was evaluated for fidelity and effects on target activities and work ability. A single-case experimental design was used with five participants. Daily and weekly ratings of personalized target activities at work as well as work ability were carried out throughout the study period of 26–28 weeks. Effects of the behavioral medicine physiotherapy intervention were evaluated for each individual using visual analysis of displayed graphs and quantitative non-overlap methods. Goal achievement for target activities was reviewed. Three participants completed the intervention. The results indicated an effect from the behavioral medicine physiotherapy intervention on task-specific self-efficacy for target activities, but no consistent effect on experience of target activities or work ability. All three participants had increased function in target activities in line with pre-defined goals. Fidelity to the intervention manual was good. Behavioral medicine physiotherapy can be successfully adapted to work disability and was here replicated in an RTW context for individuals with chronic pain. The intervention protocol should be further evaluated in large-scale studies.

Keywords: behavioral medicine; chronic pain; return to work; rehabilitation; exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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