Movement as a basic concept in physiotherapy – A human science approach

Abstract

The development of scientific knowledge of physiotherapy (PT) has advanced significantly. Research is mostly conducted within a biomedical paradigm and theory-building is underpinned by a positivist paradigm. The basic philosophical questions and concepts are not much reflected on, and PT lacks an established theoretical frame. The first step in theory development is to define the basic concepts. The aim of this professional theoretical paper was to reflect on and describe the concept of movement in PT based on earlier research as a standpoint for a broader and deeper understanding of the complex nature of PT reality inspired by a model for concept analysis developed in caring science [Eriksson K 2010 Concept determination as part of the development of knowledge in caring science. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 24: 2–11]. The concept of movement in PT is conceptualized as complex and multidimensional. The understanding of human movement in PT is based on five categories described in the paper. The conceptualization of movement includes acting in relation to the socio-cultural environment, inter-dynamic aspects, as well as personal, intradynamic aspects. This paper argues for the need to further develop the concept of movement in PT within a human science approach. A deeper understanding is needed as a basis for understanding complex clinical practice as well as in shaping the PT discipline.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Camilla Wikström-Grotell was responsible for all parts of this article. Katie Eriksson contributed with scientific and critical comments to refine the article and acted as an overall supervisor.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Notes

Ontology is the study of the nature of being. Epistemology is the study of the nature of knowledge. A certain ontology is followed by a certain epistemology (Alvesson and Sköldberg 2009; The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu).

Eriksson has since the 1970s developed a methodology for concept determination as part of caring science basic research. The model was originally developed by Koort in pedagogies (Sivonen, Kasen, and Eriksson, 2010) and further developed in caring science at the Department of Caring Science at Åbo Akademi University (Eriksson, 2010).

Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900–2002) was a German philosopher of the continental tradition, best known for the opus Truth and Method (Wahrheit und Methode 1960). Gadamer built his philosophy on the idea of a “historically effected consciousness” (wirkungsgeschichtliches Bewußtsein), which means that people are embedded in and shaped by a particular history and culture, which is articulated in their understanding of the world or being (Gadamer, 1989).