Search

Purpose: To investigate the experiences the target group had with physical activity as a physiotherapy intervention. Design, material and method: Six qualitative interviews were analyzed by Kirsti Malteruds´ principles of systematic text condensation (STC). This study was based on the biopsychosocial model of understanding (BPSS). Findings: Four categories described what the training group led to. 1) To change focus contributed to stop negative thoughts. The experience of being tired in a new way resulted in a calmer everyday life. 2) To have continuous routines created predictability, and the experience of being expected made attending manageable. 3) To be a part of a community gave a feeling of affiliation, even though exclusion was felt occasionally. 4) An experience of victory created a belief in facing, and managing other challenges in life. Conclusion: The findings gave an understanding of physical activity as an important impact in the patients’ lives (biologically, psychologically and socially). Physiotherapists can be an important part in the process of further developing the treatment for a group in need of a closer follow-up offer.

Introduction: In 2020, a new national guideline for the bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy will be introduced. In addition, new guidelines for all health and social education (RETHOS) will be introduced. These guidelines emphasize that bachelor candidates should have knowledge of social and health challenges such as neglect of care, violence, substance abuse and socio-economic problems. Main part: The article describes how physiotherapists can better meet the health challenges of people who are in active substance (ab)use, based in theories of recovery, pedagogy related to health and social awareness. Studies show that people with a drug addiction often have extensive and complex health issues that physiotherapists have good knowledge about, and which are conditions in which physical therapy is indicated. Nevertheless, a Norwegian survey of living conditions shows that physiotherapy is not used by people with poor health and accompanying low social capital. Physiotherapists should strive to be better equipped to meet and get involved with these clients by providing their professional competence to people who neither know how to ask for help, nor what they need help for. Moreover, the authors argue that the approach towards these clients should start as a social process based in social and physical interaction rather than based in a relatively rigid structure of functional and physical examinations, testing and assessments. Conclusion: An important message in this article is how recovery can be understood as a nonlinear process that starts with establishing a respectful reciprocal arena of interaction on the user’s premises where the person concerned explores how meaning can be created in his/her own life through curiosity, trial and error, and dialogue, and that physiotherapy can contribute in this process. The authors are nuancing how a recovery perspective can assist the physiotherapists in acquiring better strategies towards people with drug addiction challenges, and thus suggest how the new guidelines can be implemented.