Physiotherapy

or Physical Therapy, or PT

Physiotherapy for torture victims II: Treatment of chronic pain

Amris, K. & Prip, K. (2000), Torture Quarterly: Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, 10(4), 112-16.
 
This article was reviewed by Stephanie Greer, University of Minnesota doctoral physical therapy student.
 
The link to the article from the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture, follows below.
 
Background - Several studies of torture victims have shown that physical complaints are common even years after torture and that pain in relation to the musculoskeletal system is a dominating symptom.

Physiotherapy for torture victims I: Chronic pain in torture victims: Possible mechanisms for the pain

Prip, K. & Amris, K. Torture Quarterly: Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, 10(3), 73-76.
 
This article was reviewed by doctoral physical therapy student, Angela Pitar, from the University of Minnesota, 2014. 
 
A link to the article from the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture library is below.
 
Background - Throughout the years, several chronic muscular pain syndromes have been described in victims of torture with common findings of:  regional or diffuse pain in the musculoskeletal system often associated with poor sleep, tiredness, paresthesia, headache,

Mind and body-Physiotherapy and complementary therapy

Hough, A. (1992). Paper presented at the International Conference of Centres, Institutions and Individuals Concerned With the Care of Victims of Organized Violence: Health , Political Repression and Human Rights, Santiago, Chile. 
 
This article was reviewed by University of Minnesota physical therapy doctoral student, Angela Pitar, 2014. 
 
The article may be obtained free of charge by emailing library@dignityinstiture.dk. 
 
Background - Torture victims often present with a multitude of problems and complementary therapy seeks to address each problem using a comprehensive and collaborative

Complementary therapies for treating survivors of torture

Vargas, C., O’Rourke, D. & Esfandian, M. Refuge: Canada’s Periodical on Refugees, 22(1), 129-137.
 
This article was reviewed by doctoral physical therapy student from the University of Minnesota, Angela Pitar, 2014.
 
Link to full text article from the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture is below.
 
Background - the assumptions that physical pain, unexplained by medical or physical findings, is psychosomatic in nature has been long standing and pervasive as was pain reported by survivors of torture attributed to psychological trauma.

Sequelae in Soft Tissues after Beating, Suspension, and Fixation

Prip, K. (1994), Torture Quarterly, Suppl. 1, 28-31.
 
This article was reviewed by University of Minnesota doctoral physical therapy student Angela Pitar, 2014. 
 
The link to the full text from Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture is below.
 
Background: Many movement impairments are found in torture survivors, since they were placed in fixed positions for prolonged periods of time.  This article discusses the effects of tissue stress/strain, the phases of injury, and different management approaches for the different phases. 
 
 
Background -
  • when tendons are loaded, all the fibers straighten out

Pain: physiologic mechanisms used in physical therapy

 Skjoerboek, I. (1994). Torture Quarterly, Suppl. 1, 33-35.
 
This article was reviewed by Angela Pitar, doctoral physical therapy student at the University of Minnesota, 2014. 
 
The link to the article from the Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture, is below.
 
Background - the definition of pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with the actual or potential tissue damage, or described by the patient in terms of such damage. Detailed descriptions of mechanisms of pain and treatment implications are made.
 
Physiology of pain - the perception of pain is either affected

Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy (Physical Therapy: these terms will be used interchangeably on this website) is a growing field in the area of torture survivor treatment. Survivors of torture are often affected by chronic pain and by difficulty in carrying out functional activities.
 
Research carried out by Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture suggests that up to 80% of torture survivors could benefit from receiving physiotherapy. A worldwide survey of torture treatment centers carried out by the Center for Victims of Torture staff shows that a majority of clients receive physical therapy 51% of the time

Examination by the Physiotherapist

Amris, K. & Prip, K. (1994). Torture Quarterly Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, Suppl. 1, 14-27.
 
This article was reviewed by Angela Pitar, doctoral physical therapy student at the University of Minnesota, 2014. 
 
The link to the full text of the article from Dignity-Danish Institute Against Torture is below.
 
Purpose - the purpose of physical therapy is to reduce pain, improve function, and educate patients on how to cope with pain.

Physical Therapy for Survivors of Torture

Description

Some specialized torture treatment centers have observed benefits among their patients from physical treatment modalities such as physical therapy or massage. Primary care or other clinics treating torture survivors may also consider such interventions when addressing complaints of chronic pain and physical symptoms.  Because torture is usually directed in part toward the physical being of the victim, attention to the body can be especially therapeutic, both emotionally and physically.

Children, torture and psychological consequences

Alayarian, A. (2009). Torture: Journal of Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, 19(2), 145-156.
 
Impact of torture on children may vary depending on the child’s coping strategies, cultural and social circumstances. In this paper the author gives a brief introduction of the work the Refugee Therapy Center does with children, discusses the effects of torture on children and presents a vignette and some examples of clinical intervention.

* The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)’s Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of

Introduction

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE  

This book is a starting point for professionals who work with torture treatment centers, such as: therapists, social workers, attorneys, nurses, physicians, and administrators. This book can be read in its entirety, or the professional can read the areas pertinent to specific disciplines. By reaching out to members of torture treatment programs in the United States, the reader should be able to build a network services, either community-wide or within an agency, to better meet the needs of their clients.

PDF icon Healing_the_Hurt_Intro.pdf

The Treatment of Chronic Pain in Survivors of Torture and Refugee Trauma: an Integrative Approach

Webinar Summary and Resources

This webinar focuses on the potential alleviation of torture-induced chronic pain through alternative medicine and techniques. While the webinar is intended for medical professionals, it is accessible to a wider audience as well. After establishing that western conceptions both of pain and the necessity of pharmaceutical or surgical treatment are not universal, the webinar elaborates on a series of alternative medicines that have clinically and anecdotally been shown to be helpful.

THI Part 3 of 3: Family and Patient Support: New Approaches to Fostering Dialogue and Hope

In the 1950's Dr. Ettinger and later in the 1980s Goldfeld and Mollica identified Traumatic Head Injury (THI)/leading to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a common and severe sequelae of trauma and other forms of external violence. THI/TBI is now likely recognized as the signature injury in American combat troops returning from the wars in the Middle East. Yet THI/TBI related to medical and psychiatric problems are difficult to diagnose and treat even in specialized clinics for survivors of torture and combat veterans.

Don't miss the other two parts of this webinar series!

History and Evidence of

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