The Physiotherapists aim to empower people to achieve their goals.
Your story is the key. Most of the critical information about your condition is in your story. It’s a bit like a person who brings in a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces present, but they don’t know what the picture looks like. The clinician’s role is to work with you to find the place for all the pieces of your puzzle, to help you make sense of it (make the picture clear).
During the initial consultation (typically one hour), the team takes the time to hear your story. Focusing on:
Based on all this information we will develop a treatment plan:
First, the clinicians sit down with clients to help them understand why you have pain and the factors contributing to it. They assist in developing different ways of thinking about and responding to pain, empowering clients to take control. A tailored plan is then created to help achieve goals and return to everyday activities.
The team also provides guidance to resources that support a better understanding of the client’s pain condition.
The clinicians develop exercise programs that are specific to you, your unique presentation, your functional capacity and pain levels, as well as your level of confidence and your goals. Programs begin gradually and progress over time to build confidence in movement, loading, and strengthening the body. The aim is to help clients find movement strategies that reduce pain and restore a sense of control. All exercises are functionally oriented and goal-driven, designed to build confidence and support a return to meaningful daily activities. The clinicians also teach practical strategies that can be adapted and integrated into everyday life.
For example, in cases of back pain, it is common for individuals to lose confidence in their ability to bend and lift, which can limit activities such as dressing, gardening, or playing with children. Often, the muscles around the back and abdomen become over-tense—much like clenching a fist—which makes movement stiff and painful. The clinicians first guide clients in relaxing these muscles and moving in ways that are more comfortable, gradually building strength, confidence, and capacity to bend and lift again. This is then integrated into everyday activities to restore function and confidence.
Regular movement and physical activity is so important for our mental and physical health. Finding ways to move and engage in activities that you enjoy – participating in social activities are so helpful when dealing with pain. This can be anything from walking, riding a bike, dancing, yoga, swimming, Pilates, running or gym work. The clinicians support clients in achieving their goals. All exercise is helpful, and the best exercise is whatever you find enjoyable and will keep doing. Exercise is like a drug – you need enough to get the benefits. For pain, at least 150 minutes per week is recommended.
Sleep is so important for the nervous system, immune system and mental health, and yet sleep disruption is a key problem when living with pain. The clinicians work with clients to explore sleep habits, relaxation, movement, and posture during rest. Simple, practical strategies are often highly effective in improving sleep quality.
Stress management is a key component of pain management. Stress can manifest itself in the body, making it more sensitive and tense. The clinicians can provide coaching in relaxation, breathing, and mindfulness techniques. Strong evidence supports these approaches in promoting relaxation, pain relief, and a greater sense of wellbeing.
Healthy eating is also important for managing many pain conditions. There is growing evidence of the negative impact that carrying excessive belly fat can have on the body’s tissues via increased inflammation. Reducing belly fat can reduce pain relating to arthritis and tendinopathy.
For some people this journey may be short while for others it can take a longer time. Usually we expect to see you between 4-8 times over a period of 12 weeks depending on the level of complexity. We will space these times out as you develop more control over your pain and reach your goals. It’s really important that you tell us if you feel we are pushing you too hard or not hard enough. Some people may need ongoing support depending on their presentation. What if my pain flares-up?
During and after treatment pain flare-ups are very common. They often occur when people are tired, run down, unwell, stressed, not sleeping or when you are inactive or do unaccustomed activity. It’s very important to have an action plan to effectively manage flare-ups and to get on top of them fast to get back on track. The clinicians consulting from Body Logic are here to support you in this process. They can be great opportunities to learn.
Working with other people in your health care team gives you the best outcome. It’s so important that everyone in your health team works together and have shared and common goals. If you give us permission we will work with your team ie. GP, psychologist, dietician, or personal trainer to support you.
Most of our research to date has been conducted on people with chronic low back pain, however we have also adapted this approach for people with joint pain, nerve pain, tendon pain and widespread pain. We are currently doing research in these areas.
There are now a number of clinical studies demonstrating that Cognitive Functional Therapy can result in long term reductions in pain and disability compared to other interventions. Importantly it is not a cure for all – however many people who undergo the intervention report greater pain control, less need for medication, treatment and feel like they are able to get back to living again. There is also evidence for improved confidence and mental health. The key to success is that we put you in charge of this journey.
What is cognitive functional therapy? How can it reduce low back pain and get you moving?
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The clinicians consulting from Body Logic and their way of thinking are what set them apart. They’re researchers, lecturers, students and coaches. When you work with Body Logic, you’re connected to a network of experts with diverse experience.
The clinicians at Body Logic work with many people, regardless of where they are in their journey.
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