Tell me your story, an exploration of the practical application of the biopsychosocial model to low back pain in an osteopathic setting
Item
- Title
- Tell me your story, an exploration of the practical application of the biopsychosocial model to low back pain in an osteopathic setting
- Author(s)
- Abrosimoff, M
- Abstract
- Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common reason people seek osteopathic care. Modern pain neuroscience has highlighted the importance of understanding the diverse, emergent phenomena of an individual LBP experience. The biopsychosocial (BPS) model, applied to LBP, is a clinical model that encompasses the complex contextual, biological, cognitive, psychological and social aspects that contribute to a pain experience. There is limited knowledge of how osteopaths operationalise the BPS model in clinical practice. Objectives: This study aimed to understand osteopaths’ experiences of the practical application of the BPS model to LBP in a clinical context, and to explore if any challenges existed. Design and methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted, interviewing qualified osteopaths who were purposively sampled in applying a BPS approach to people presenting with LBP. Analysis of data used a constructivist approach and constant comparative method consistent with elements of grounded theory. Results: Analysis of data resulted in the construction of the following themes describing participants’ experiences of the clinical application of the BPS model; a) collaboration b) deriving meaning from narrative c) coaching d) empowerment e) reframing ‘pain’ and f) desensitizing. Two further themes were constructed to represent challenges ground in the data; g) reflections on training and integration and h) osteopathic identity and remit. Two central concepts were constructed; 1) Using the BPS model to go beyond the mechanics to modulate pain and suffering and 2) Uncertainty and incomplete integration of the BPS model into clinical practice. Conclusions: The findings indicate that participants viewed the BPS model as essential to navigate a person’s experience of pain, identifying and addressing the emergent factors which have contributed to the cause or maintenance of the pain and suffering and informing treatment of these factors. However, the integration of the BPS model into clinical practice is fraught with obstacles ranging from the pervasive dualist nature of societal beliefs and inadequacies of undergraduate training to uncertainty about remit and dissension with defining principles of osteopathic practice.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2018
- Date Submitted
- 25.1.2019 17:18:24
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16383
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Biopyschosocial model
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Abrosimoff, M, “Tell me your story, an exploration of the practical application of the biopsychosocial model to low back pain in an osteopathic setting”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/377