Background: Chronic pain conditions are pervasive, debilitating, and costly problems across the globe, yet medical treatments often fail to relieve the patients of pain. As a result, complementary treatments, such as yoga, are often used in an attempt to reduce pain and disability. Yoga seems to be effective in short-term relief of pain and, in some cases, helps alleviate psychological comorbidities associated with pain, such as depression and anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of an eight-week Forrest Yoga intervention on pain interference, pain severity, and psychological outcomes. Methods: Seventy-nine participants were randomly assigned to yoga or usual care and completed a battery of self-report assessments at baseline, mid-intervention (4-weeks), post-intervention (8-weeks), and follow-up (16-weeks). Measures of pain interference, pain severity, number of painful body parts, sensory and affective experience of pain, psychological flexibility, pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, depression and anxiety, and social support were included. Results: There were significant reductions in pain interference and activity avoidance in the yoga group compared to usual care post-intervention. Differences trended towards significance for pain severity and number of painful body parts. Compared to usual care, yoga participants showed significant early reductions in pain interference, pain severity, number of painful body parts, affective experience of pain, depression, overall fear of movement, and activity avoidance. Compared to usual care, these changes were not maintained at 16-weeks (2 months following the intervention). Conclusions: The yoga intervention provided some relief of pain and pain-related problems while the intervention was ongoing but did not provide sustained relief.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of the study was threefold. Firstly, to investigate if a four week program in pain rehabilitation had any effect on how much individuals with persistent pain worked and their degree of kinesiophobia. Secondly, to study if there was a correlation between how much these individuals worked and their degree of kinesiophobia. Thirdly, to study if there was a correlation between the change in these variables. Method: 112 patients who had participated in a four week rehabilitation program took part in the study. The study had a retrospective design, which was based on a review on medical records and consisted of three minor parts. The first part had a quasi-experimental comparative design and the other two parts had non-experimental cross-sectional correlative designs. Kinesiophobia was analyzed with the Swedish version of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-SV). How much a patient was working was measured in percent. Results: Both work status and kinesiophobia had improved significant in every measurement. The highest improvement in the variable of kinesiophobia was discovered by the end of the program in pain rehabilitation and by the twelve month follow-up in the variable about how much patients was working. Analysis with Spearman’s rang correlation coefficient showed a weak statistical significant correlation between how much individuals work and their degree of kinesiophobia in the twelve months follow-up. There was however no statistical significant correlation between the change of how much individuals worked and the change of their degree of kinesiophobia, neither in the two nor in the twelve months follow-up. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies that have been done who investigate the correlation between kinesiophobia and how much individuals with persistent pain are working and it shows that there is a need to continue to investigate the correlation between them, both for the individual as well as for the society in general and if possible also study what importance self-efficacy has in this context.

Tyrimo tikslas: įvertinti skausmo sureikšminimo ir judesių baimės įtaką kelio sąnario funkcijai antruoju reabilitacijos etapu po kelio sąnario operacijų. Uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti skausmo sureikšminimo ir judesių baimės lygį prieš ir po reabilitacijos; 2. Įvertinti kūno funkcijų ir veiklos sutrikimus prieš ir po reabilitacijos; 3. Įvertinti skausmo sureikšminimo įtaką kelio sąnario funkcijos atsigavimui; 4. Įvertinti judesių baimės įtaką kelio sąnario funkcijos atsigavimui; 5. Įvertinti kineziterapeutų požiūrį į psichologinių veiksnių vertinimą kineziterapeuto darbe. Tyrimo metodai: buvo atlikti du tyrimai. Pirmo tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti skausmo sureikšminimo ir judesių baimės įtaką kelio sąnario funkcijai antruoju reabilitacijos etapu po kelio sąnario operacijų. Tyrime dalyvavo 41 tiriamasis, 22 pacientai po priekinių kryžminių raiščių operacijos ir 19 pacientų po meniskų operacijos. Prieš ir po reabilitacijos buvo vertinami tiriamųjų skausmo sureikšminimo ir judesių baimės lygis, skausmo intensyvumas, judesių amplitudė, raumenų jėga ir kelio sąnario funkcinė būklė. Antro tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti kineziterapeutų požiūrį į psichologinių veiksnių vertinimą kineziterapeuto darbe. Buvo sudaryti klausimai ir atlikta anoniminė anketinė apklausa. Tyrime dalyvavo 98 kineziterapeutai, dirbantys pagal specialybę ir su suaugusiais žmonėmis. Išvados: 1. Pasibaigus reabilitacijai, pacientams po kelio sąnario operacijų skausmo sureikšminimo ir judesių baimės lygis sumažėjo (p<0,0... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of research: to assess the association of pain catastrophizing and fear of movement with knee joint function after knee joint surgery during the second stage of rehabilitation. The tasks of research: 1. To assess the level of pain catastrophizing and fear of movement before and after rehabilitation. 2. To assess body function and activities limitations before and after rehabilitation. 3. To assess the association of pain catastrophizing with knee joint function recovery. 4. To assess the association of fear of movement with knee joint function recovery. 5. To assess physical therapists attitudes toward psychological factors assessment in physical therapist practise. The methods of the research: this research focuses on two studies. The aim of the first study – to assess the association of pain catastrophizing and fear of movement with knee joint function after knee joint surgery during the second stage of rehabilitation. The study involved 41 participants, 21 of them after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and 19 after meniscus surgery. Before and after rehabilitation participant‘s level of pain catastrophizing and fear of movement, pain intensity, range of motion, muscle strenght and subjective knee joint function were assessed. The aim of the second study – to assess physical therapists attitudes toward psychological factors assessment. The anonymous survey of physical therapists attitudes was conducted. The study involved 98 physical therapists, which are... [to full text]

Bakgrund: Graviditetsrelaterad bäckensmärta (PGP) är vanligt förekommande hos gravida. Punktprevalensen har uppgetts till cirka 20 %. Bäckensmärtan utlöses av belastning och inverkar negativt på det dagliga livets aktiviteter såsom att bära, lyfta och förflytta sig. Det finns få studier på effekten av hållningskorrigering och ergonomi vid PGP. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka om en patientutbildning i ergonomi med fokus på praktisk träning av aktiviteterna gång, vändning i säng och uppresning hade effekt på smärta och aktivitetsbegränsning hos gravida kvinnor med bäckensmärta. Metod: En single-subject experimental design studie med AB design genomfördes med sex gravida deltagare med PGP. Interventionen bestod av praktisk träning av rörelsetekniker vid gång, vändning i säng och uppresning i kombination med information om PGP. Som utfallsmått för smärta användes Numeric Rating Scale, för aktivitetsbegränsning användes Timed Up and Go samt Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire. Två standardavvikelser-metoden (2SD-metoden) användes för att analysera data. Resultat: En deltagare upplevde sig helt återställd vid studiens slut och hade signifikant minskad smärta vid gång och vändning i säng samt signifikant minskad aktivitetsbegränsning. En deltagare upplevde sig mycket försämrad och hade signifikant ökad smärta vid uppresning samt signifikant ökad aktivitetsbegränsning. Övriga deltagare hade överlag oförändrade resultat vad gäller smärta och aktivitetsbegränsning. Slutsats: Det kunde inte ses någon positiv effekt på smärta och aktivitetsbegränsning förutom för en deltagare. Fyra av deltagarna upplevde en förbättring av sina bäckenbesvär vid studiens slut. / Background: Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) is common. The point prevalence has been estimated to 20 %. The pain is elicited by movement and loading activities and is negatively affecting the activities of daily life. Few studies are made on the effect of correction of posture and ergonomics for PGP. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate possible changes in pain and disability after a treatment including patient education about ergonomics and practical training of a movement technique during walking, turning over in bed and rising from a chair. Method: A single-subject experimental design with AB-design was carried out. Six pregnant subjects with PGP were included. The subjects were educated about PGP and movement techniques during walking, turning over in bed and rising from a chair was taught and practiced. As outcome measures Numerical Rating Scale was used for pain, and Timed Up and Go and Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire were used for disability. The two standard deviation band method (2SD-method) was used to analyze data. Results: One subject got significantly reduced pain while walking and turning over in bed and got significantly reduced disability. One subject got significantly increased pain while rising from a chair and significantly increased disability. The majority of subjects got neither increased or decreased pain or disability. Conclusion: No positive effect on pain and disability could be established for more than one subject. Four subjects experienced their pelvic condition improved.

Bakgrund: Bukväggens muskulatur spelar en viktig roll gällande hållning, bål- och bäckenstabilitet, andning, bålrörelser och som stöd för de inre organen i buken. Rektusdiastas, en delning av bukmusklerna, är vanligt förekommande framför allt hos kvinnor under och efter graviditet och kan eventuellt påverka dessa funktioner och göra ländryggen och bäckenet mer sårbara. Syfte: Att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och ländryggs- och bäckensmärta samt vidden på rektusdiastasen och rörelserädsla, hos kvinnor efter graviditet. Metod: Kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie. Antalet deltagare var 141. Populationen var kvinnor 20-50 år som fött barn där yngsta barnet var mellan 1-8 år och som förstod och kunde uttrycka svenska i tal och skrift. Deltagarna skulle ha en rektusdiastas på minst 2 fingerbredd mellan rektusbukarna mätt 4 cm ovanför naveln. Datainsamlingen bestod av ultraljudsmätning samt frågeformulären Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) och Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-SV). Korrelation analyserades med Spearmans korrelationskoefficient. Deltagarna delades in i två grupper utifrån att de hade en rektusdiastas på mer eller mindre än 2,4 cm och skillnaderna mellan grupperna analyserades med Mann-Whitney U-test. Resultat: Ingen statistisk signifikant korrelation över p = 0,05 förelåg mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och någon av smärtskattningarna. Däremot förelåg en statistiskt signifikant svagt positiv korrelation mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och rörelserädsla. Vidare sågs ingen statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan de två grupperna, ≤ 2,4 cm eller &gt;2,4 cm rektusdiastas, och smärtskattningarna. Resultatet visade dock på statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan grupperna och skattningen av rörelserädsla. Slutsats: Studien visade att vidden av rektusdiastas som enskild faktor inte hade något samband med ländryggs- och bäckensmärtor hos kvinnor efter graviditet. Kvinnor med kvarstående rektusdiastas &gt; 2,4 cm, tenderade i denna studien att skatta högre på TSKSV, än de som hade ≤ 2,4 cm. Gällande skattningen av smärtan sågs ingen statistisk signifikans mellan grupperna. I mötet med dessa kvinnor bör fysioterapeuter inte endast fokusera på smärtan utan beakta fler faktorer såsom rörelserädsla, och fokusera på att guida dessa personer till att våga röra sig för att minska och undvika utveckling av rörelserädsla. / Background: The abdominal muscles play an important part in posture, inner unit stability, breathing, upper body movement, to generate power of the abdominal muscles and in supporting inner organs. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles is common during and after pregnancy and might affect these important functions and thereby increase the vulnerability of the lower back and pelvic areas. Aim: To determine the correlation between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and low back- and pelvic pain and the width of diastasis recti abdominis and fear of movement, in women after pregnancy. Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study. The amount of participants was 141. The population was women, 20-50 years old, who had given birth, the youngest child between the ages of 1-8 years old and were able to understand Swedish both verbally and in writing. The research participants had a diastasis recti abdominis more than 2 finger-widths, measured 4 cm above the umbilicus. The data collection was made with ultrasound and the questionnaires used were Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the swedish version of Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-SV). Correlation was analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The participants were also divided into two groups based on a cut-off value of the diastasis of 2,4 cm and differences between groups were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: No statistical significance in correlation over p = 0,05 was found between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and any of the pain ratings. However, there was a statistical significant weak positive correlation between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and fear of movement. Furthermore there was no statistical significance between the groups ≤ 2,4 cm or &gt; 2,4 cm of diastasis recti abdominis and the pain ratings, but a significant difference between the groups and the estimation on fear of movement. Conclusion: The study showed that the width of diastasis recti abdominis as alone factor doesn’t have any correlation with low back- and pelvic pain in women after pregnancy. Women with remaining diastasis recti abdominis &gt; 2,4 cm, tended to estimate higher in this study in TSK-SV than those who had ≤ 2,4 cm. Regarding the ratings of the pain, no statistically significant difference between the groups were shown. When meeting these women physiotherapists should not only focus on the pain but also consider factors such as fear of movement and focus their efforts on guiding the women so that the risk of developing fear of movement is reduced.

This thesis is on chronic neck pain after a rear impact car injury, so called whiplash associated disorder (WAD). Three empirical studies using positron emission tomography (PET) with different radioligands have been performed. The first study evaluated resting state regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in WAD patients and in healthy, pain-free controls, by use of oxygen-15 labeled water. Patients had heightened resting rCBF bilaterally in the posterior parahippocampal and the posterior cingulate gyri, in the right thalamus and in the right medial prefrontal gyrus. Attenuated tempero-occipital blood flow was also observed in the patient group as compared to healthy controls. Alterations in rCBF were related to patients’ neck disability ratings. Study I suggests an involvement of the posterior cingulate, the parahippocampal and the medial prefrontal gyri in WAD. This altered resting state neural activity may be linked to an increased self-relevant evaluation of pain and stress. The second study evaluated central expression of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor in WAD patients and healthy controls. Using a carbon-11 labeled specific NK1 antagonist, the receptor availability was measured. Patients displayed lowered NK1 receptor availability in the insula, anterior cingulate, frontal lobe, hippocampus, amygdala and in the periaqueductal gray matter, consistent with results from animal models of chronic pain. NK1 receptor availability was most reduced in the ventromedial orbitofrontal cortex, where attenuations were linearly related to patients fear and avoidance of movement. Thirdly, carbon-11 labeled D-deprenyl was used to investigate the presence of locally inflamed soft tissue in the cervical neck in WAD patients. Although the retention mechanism of [11C]D-deprenyl is not known, the results suggest that WAD patients have chronic inflammatory processes in the neck, most commonly in the adipose tissue at the spineous process of the second vertebra. In summary, this thesis provides evidence for altered central blood flow and receptor characteristics in WAD patients. Further, WAD patients may also have signs of persistent peripheral tissue damage. Both central and peripheral pain mechanisms have been demonstrated and visualized in patients with whiplash associated disorder.

Omkring 10-20 % av personer med lumbalt diskbråck opereras. Operationen syftar främst till att behandla utstrålande smärta i nedre extremiteter. Beteenderelaterade faktorer kan påverka smärtupplevelsen vid långvariga smärttillstånd och viss forskning finns om hur resultatet av diskbråcksoperation påverkas av olika biopsykosociala faktorer. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur smärtintensitet var associerat till vissa beteenderelaterade faktorer före och två år efter lumbal diskbråcksoperation, samt om dessa faktorer preoperativt kan predicera smärta efter diskbråcksoperation. Studien är en longitudinell deskriptiv kohortstudie där associationer analyseras. Data samlades in med en enkät före och efter operationen. Preoperativt besvarade 59 personer enkäten, två år senare upplevde 20 personer ingen smärta och besvarade därför inte de beteenderelaterade frågorna. Preoperativt fanns svaga till moderata korrelationer mellan smärta och de flesta beteenderelaterade faktorerna. Två år postoperativt fanns moderata till starka korrelationer mellan smärta och katastroftankar, rörelserädsla, ”möjlighet att minska smärta” respektive smärtkontroll men inte till self-statement. Postoperativ bensmärta vid aktivitet korrelerade med preoperativt högt skattad self-statement. Studiens resultat säger ingenting om kausalitet, men tyder på att effektiva copingstrategier kan förhindra att kronisk smärta utvecklas, mätt två år efter diskbråcksoperation. Resultatet kan också förklaras med att en från början låg smärtintensitet är lättare att hantera. / Approximately 10-20% of patients with lumbar disc herniation require surgical treatment. Surgery aims primarily to reduce radiating pain in the lower limbs. Behaviour related factors can affect the experience of pain in a long term conditions. Some research is available concerning the influence of different biopsychosocial factors on the outcome of disc herniation surgery. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between pain intensity and behaviour related factors before and two years after lumbar disc surgery. Further, the aim is to analyse the predictive value of these factors in relation to pain two years after surgery. The design is a longitudinal descriptive cohort trial where associations are analysed. Data were collected before and two years after surgery. Questionnaires were answered by 59 persons with lumbar disc herniation before surgery. As 20 of the responders had no pain two years postoperatively, these did not answer the questions related to behaviour related factors. Before surgery correlations were weak to moderate between most of the behaviour related factors and pain. Two years later pain correlated moderately and strongly to catastrophising, fear of movement, ability to decrease pain and pain control but not to self-statements. Conversely, leg pain in activity two years after surgery correlated with highly rated use of self-statements preoperatively. The results of the study say nothing about causal relationships but indicate that effective coping strategies can prevent the development of chronic pain, measured two years post surgery. Possibly, lower pain is easier to cope with, which could also explain the results.

Aims This study examines the effects of surgery for chronic low back pain (CLBP) as well as fear avoidance, disability and levels of rated physical activity in patients treated in 2011. An additional aim was to assess patient’s experience of physiotherapy in primary care following the surgery as well the effect of physiotherapy on above mentioned outcome measures. Method A cross-sectional study design was used and a stratified random sample from 189 patients who were treated surgically in a hospital setting. This resulted in a sample of 112 respondents, half of whom where female. Ages ranged between 25-78 years. Questionnaires were sent by mail and data from 79 patients was collected. Non-parametric statistics were used. Outcome measures used were Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and the physical activity scale. Results More than one in four patients reported high levels of kinesiophobia, more than one in three experienced disability and less than a third were physically active. Patients with total disc replacement had better outcome than patients with lumbar fusion. A higher degree of kinesiophobia correlated significantly to experiencing more disability (rs=0.53, p&lt;0.001) and being less physically active (rs=-0.48, p&lt;0.001), and there were significant negative correlations between disability and levels of rated physical activity (rs=-0.37, p&lt;0.001). Rehabilitation in primary care did not affect the results significantly. Conclusions The results of this study hint that the fear avoidance model is relevant in patients treated surgically for chronic low back pain. Physiotherapists and other health care professionals should screen for these beliefs and try to target them. This may assist patients to pursue health promoting activities and activities in daily life. / Syfte och frågeställningar Denna studie undersöker effekterna av kirurgi för kronisk ländryggssmärta liksom kinesiofobi, funktionsnedsättning och skattade fysiska aktivitetsnivåer hos patienter som behandlats under 2011. Ett annat syfte var att utvärdera patienternas upplevelser av sjukgymnastik i primärvård samt effekten av sjukgymnastik på ovannämnda utfallsmått postoperativt. Metod Tvärnsittsstudie med stratifierat randomiserat urval från 189 patienter som behandlats kirurgiskt i sjukhusmiljö. Detta resulterade i 112 respondenter, varav hälften var kvinnor. Åldrarna sträckte sig från 25-78 år. Enkäter från 79 patienter kunde analyseras. Icke-parametrisk statistik användes för analys. De utfallsmått som användes var Tampaskalan för kinsiofobi, Roland Morris funktionsnedsättningsskala och en skala för fysisk aktivitet. Resultat Mer än en fjärdedel av alla patienter rapporterade höga nivåer av kinesiofobi, mer än en tredjedel upplevde funktionsnedsättning och mindre än en tredjedel skattade sig som fysiskt aktiva. Patienter som opererats med diskprotes hade bättre resultat än patienter som opererats med steloperation. En högre grad av kinesiofobi korrelerade signifikant med att uppleva en större funktionsnedsättning (rs=0.53, p&lt;0.001)  och lägre skattad fysisk aktivitet (rs=-0.48, p&lt;0.001). Det fanns även en signifikant negativ correlation mellan funktionsnedsättning och skattad fysisk aktivitet (rs=-0.37, p&lt;0.001). Rehabilitering i primärvård påverka inte resultatet signifikant. Slutsats Resultaten i denna studie pekar mot att rädsla-undvikande-modellen är relevant hos patienter som behandlats kirurgiskt för kronisk ländryggssmärta. Sjukgymnaster och annan häslo- och sjukvårdspersonal bör undersöka om dessa tankar finns hos denna patientgrupp och behandla dem. Detta för att underlätta för patienter att delta i aktiviteter för förbättrad hälsa och aktivitet i dagliga livet.

Thesis title: Kinesiophobia in patients on renal dialysis therapy - questionnaire study. The aims of the thesis: To characterise the term kinesiophobia and to evaluate the dependence of the measure of fear of movement on sociodemographic and clinical variables with the use of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia questionnaire (TSK-CZ) in a group of respondents on renal dialysis therapy and a group of healthy respondents. Methods: To determine the dependence of the measure of kinesiophobia on selected variables, the TSK-CZ questionnaire was used in Fresenius Medical Care dialysis centres across towns in the Czech Republic. The reference group of individuals with no renal disease - healthy respondents - was addressed by means of the Survio.cz website. The research comprised a group of respondents on renal dialysis therapy (n = 135) and a group of healthy respondents (n = 135). The collected data was processed using statistical methods - descriptive statistics and data analysis (t-test, Chi-squared test, ANOVA, Spearman's correlation coefficient). After that, the data was transferred to tables and charts and was evaluated. Results: On the basis of the TSK-CZ questionnaire, a significant difference in the measure of fear of movement was found between the respondents on renal dialysis and the healthy ones...

Bakgrund: Ospecifik ländryggssmärta är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till att man söker hjälp inom primärvården. För långvarig, ospecifik ländryggssmärta är träning ett förstahandsval och fokus har under det senaste årtiondet legat på bålstabiliserande träning. Psykosociala faktorer som self-efficacy och rörelserädsla kan vara viktiga att beakta vid behandlingen då de spelar en roll i hur ländryggssmärtan utvecklas. Syfte: Att undersöka hur skattad smärta, self-efficacy och rörelserädsla samt funktionsnivå förändrades hos enskilda patienter med långvarig, ospecifik ländryggssmärta under och efter en intervention i grupp med bålstabiliserande träning. Metod: Designen var en A-B-A single-subject design (SSED). Smärtnivå, self-efficacy och rörelserädsla mättes med självskattningsformulär en gång per vecka under fas A-B-A och funktionsnivå före och efter avslutad intervention. Interventionen pågick under åtta veckor, en gång per vecka. Data presenterades visuellt och analys gjordes även av statistisk (2-SD band metod) och klinisk signifikans. Resultat: Analysen visade att skattad smärta, self-efficacy, rörelserädsla och funktionsnivå förändrades i positiv riktning hos flera patienter. Statistisk och klinisk signifikans varierade. Slutsats: Graderad bålstabiliserande träning i grupp under handledning av sjukgymnast verkar för flera av deltagarna ha en positiv effekt på såväl smärtnivå, self-efficacy, rörelserädsla som funktionsnivå. Eftersom SSED har en begränsad generaliserbarhet bör resultaten replikeras i ytterligare studier. / Background: Non-specific low back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking help in primary care. For chronic, non-specific low back pain exercise rehabilitation is a first choice and focus in the last decade has been on motor control exercises. Psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy and fear of movement may be important to consider in the treatment as they play a role in how low back pain develops. Aim: To investigate how rated pain, self-efficacy and fear of movement as well as level of function changed in individual patients with chronic, nonspecific low back pain during and after an intervention group with motor control exercises. Method: The design was an A-B-A single-subject design (SSED). Pain level, self-efficacy and fear of movement were measured by self-assessment questionnaires once a week during phase A-B-A and level of function before and after the intervention. The intervention lasted for eight weeks, once a week. Data were presented visually and analysis was done to prove statistical (2-SD band method) and clinical significance. Results: The analysis showed that rated pain, self-efficacy, fear of movement and level of function changed in a positive direction for several of the patients. Statistical and clinical significance varied. Conclusion: Graded motor control exercises in a group under the supervision of a physiotherapist seem to have a positive effect for several of the participants with regards to level of pain, self-efficacy, fear of movement as well as level of function. Since SSED has a limited generalizability, results should be replicated in further studies.