Cognitive Functional Therapy for Treating Individuals With Chronic Shoulder Pain

Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) is underpinned by a strong therapeutic alliance, active listening, and motivational interviewing style, covering the following domains: i) Making sense of pain involves discussing the multidimensional nature of persistent pain, as well as the beliefs, emotions, and behaviors that can perpetuate the vicious cycle of pain and disability. ii) Exposure with control involves a functional training designed to normalize maladaptive and provocative postural and movement behaviors, where individuals will learn strategies to improve their body awareness and control and modify postures and tasks commonly associated with pain. iii) Lifestyle change aims to help patients embrace a healthy lifestyle, which will include promoting a gradual increase in physical activity, sleep hygiene counseling, stress management strategies, and social re-engagement.

Each session will include stretching exercises targeting the following muscles i) Upper trapezius; ii) Pectoralis minor; iii) Posterior shoulder region, and strengthening exercises targeting the following muscles i) Lower trapezius, ii) Middle trapezius, iii) Serratus punch exercise, iv) Shoulder external rotators, and v) Shoulder internal rotators.