Relaxation and speaking session during physical medicine and rehabilitation stay in Gonesse hospital: A well-matched physiotherapist and psychologist couple

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cognitive behavioral impact of a relaxation session paired with a discussion group among painful patients and/or somatic tension bearers, volunteers, conducted at the same time by a physiotherapist and a psychologist.Materials and methodsA 12-month prospective study. Deaf patients, patients with cognitive disorders, psychotic personalities, patients misunderstanding French were excluded. The weekly session consists of 30minutes of relaxation and 20minutes of talking then 10minutes of analysis without the patient. Are evaluated pain and comfort before and after relaxation, and patient's speech.Results92 patients were included in 2014; 76 with orthopedic disorders and 16 with nervous disorders. Score for pain decreases (average value:–1.3 standard deviation:1.1) and the score for comfort increases (average value: +0.5 standard deviation: 1.3) but insignificantly. The cognitive impact is positive: feeling of belonging to the group, sharing experiences and personal feeling of efficiency.DiscussionAlthough there is no quantitative significant improvement on pain and comfort, these sessions allow the patient to conceive his body experience, to use relaxation on average at the end of 3 sessions (50%) or beginning individual supportive psychotherapy (49%) and/or hypnosis sessions (17%). The main limit of this assessment is the non evaluation of anxiety.ConclusionThanks to the physiotherapist and psychologist combination who facilitates verbalization of body experience, ownership relaxation techniques, patients are able to modulate their feeling of pain and of comfort. They are thus committed into a process of change in their cognitive behavior