Introduction: Post-stroke pain is common and is associated with poorer biopsychosocial outcomes and limited evidence-based management strategies. Mind-body therapies may provide a holistic management option. However, physiotherapists’ knowledge and perceptions may limit use and current entry-level university education for physiotherapists is unknown. We aimed to examine perceived knowledge, perceptions and use of mind-body therapies for people with persistent pain post-stroke and associated education and training among Australian physiotherapists working with people post-stroke.
Methods: Australian physiotherapists (n=102; 82 female/20 male; aged 22-64 years, physiotherapy experience 1-43 years) and physiotherapy educators (n=23; 18 female/5 male, aged 31-63 years, tertiary experience 1-26 years) completed online study-specific surveys. We conducted descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses.
Results: Physiotherapists’ perceived mind-body therapy knowledge, usefulness, frequency of use, and competence were generally low to moderate. Self-practice was the most reported source of knowledge and the only significant predictor of higher knowledge. Mind-body therapies were considered beneficial for pain and a range of biopsychosocial outcomes post-stroke, with physiotherapists’ perceptions of mind-body therapies influenced primarily by personal experience and scientific evidence. Perceived knowledge and usefulness of these therapies predicted greater use. However, both physiotherapists and educators noted limited pain and mind-body therapy content during entry-level physiotherapy education, particularly for neurological or stroke cohorts.
Conclusion: Despite physiotherapists considering mind-body therapies beneficial in the management of persistent pain post-stroke, their perceived knowledge, use, and competence were low. Self-practice, rather than formal education, influenced physiotherapists’ perceptions and predicted higher knowledge, while perceived knowledge and usefulness predicted greater use of mind-body therapies.
Relevance to clinical practice or patient experience: More quality scientific literature and learning opportunities, including experiential self-practice, during entry-level university education may be warranted to increase knowledge, competence and overall use of mind-body therapies in the management of persistent pain post-stroke.