The Role of the Body and Movement Work in Trauma-informed Pain Rehabilitation

Indra is a psychologist and psychotherapist for 25 years, and a MBDMT therapist and trainer for 10 years.  

Mindfulness based Dance Movement Therapy intervention for chronic pain patient’s self-regulation: results from RCT. 

The Mindfulness based Dance Movement Therapy (MBDMT) intervention was created to address the psycho-emotional difficulties (anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, fear of movement) of chronic pain patients and to develop self-regulation skills. The model on which MBDMT is based was created using grounded theory, then adapted in a pilot study and applied in a randomized controlled trial for chronic pain patients. An intervention group participated in a 10 session DMT process over a 5-week period. In the webinar results from the RCT will be presented: comparison between the intervention and control group with regards to outcome (pain, anxiety and depression) and process (emotion regulation skills and body awareness). Further, the therapeutic mechanisms of the MBDMT model will be discussed.  

Fríða is a practicing physical therapist for 10 years, specializing in pain for 8 years, and diving into trauma and pain 6 years ago.  

A polyvagal theory account of trauma-informed physiotherapy in trauma and chronic pain patients 

The polyvagal theory originated in the description of two complementary vagal pathways, dorsal and ventral, of which the latter is phylogenetically younger and plays an important role in the recovery from trauma. I will introduce the polyvagal theory, from its origin, the biology behind it, and the questions it sought to answer in the 1970‘s and 1980‘s into how it can be applied to assessment and treatment of people with chronic pain and trauma. I will examine clinical presentations i am frequently faced with in my physiotherapy practice and walk through how the polyvagal theory helps me and my clients make sense of their experience and enhance their treatment. 

Iris is a neuroscientist whose research specializes in empathy, emotion recognition and regulation and the role of dance in (neuro)rehabilitation.  

Body (re)affiliation or the double role of the body and movement work in trauma-informed pain rehabilitation 

Based on Fríða’s and Indra’s presentations and backed up by interviews with women having suffered violence on body, emotions, pain and relationships, Iris will round up the seminar by discussing the role of the body in emotion regulation and how body and dance therapies might tap into affect attunement and through a dyadic, interpersonal process help the patient overcome suffering.   

Clair works clinically as Physiotherapy Clinical Lead at INPUT Pain Management, Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust alongside Pain and Leadership teaching both in the Physiotherapy Division at Brunel University and External as Sen. Lecturer (Professional Practice) Physiotherapy. Clair has worked in chronic pain management for most of her career in secondary and tertiary service including overseas. She is interested in psychologically informed and narrative approaches in health care graduating in Narrative Medicine, Columbia University and Narrative Based Approaches. She is serving on national and International committees including Co-Chair of the Physiotherapy Pain Association and Co-Education Lead since 2019 and Vice-Chair of Pain and Trauma SIG, IASP (previously Pain of Torture, Organized Violence, and War SIG).