Brugger Concept
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The diagnostic and treatment of functional disorders of the locomotor system and the adjacent therapy concept "Brügger Therapy" was developed by Dr.med Alois Brügger, a Swiss neurologist and neurophysiologist.[1] It is mostly used in European and especially German-speaking countries and has been implemented as a standard functional analysis concept into many physiotherapy practices.[2]
Pathoneurophysiology of functional disorders[edit | edit source]
The central aspect of Dr. Brüggers approach to diagnosis and treatment is the analysis of the posture, stance and motion patterns which the patient uses throughout their daily life. He found out that the protective measures which the body implements to spare damaged (or threatened) tissues are caused by the nociceptive somatomotor blockage effect (NSB).[3] Brügger labelled the origin of the pain, which correlates to the damaged tissue, as Interference factor. The pain experienced by the patient triggers the NSB in order to allow for the affected areas to heal or at least not become more damaged. NSBs reprogramme the physiological patterns of stance, gait, posture, etc. using evasive movements which do not trigger the pain experience. By identifying the interference factors that cause evasive movements, the therapist can readjust the patient's behaviour back to the physiological origin. Since the interference factors are not necessarily located at the point where the patient experiences pain, this often requires an extensive analysis of the body's motion pattern. The concept calls for looking beyond the pain location and identifying reactive chains within the musculoskeletal system.
Locomotion patterns in upright and stooping postures[edit | edit source]
Under physiological circumstances the human body develops motion patters that work effectively, economically and protectively to the anatomical structures.[3] Essential to this is the upright position of the body, in which all structures operate in the most ergonomic way. When assuming a stooping posture the structures leave their biomechanically optimal position. In the long-term this can cause damage to tissues which are under higher distress induced by the unphysiological positioning.
Functional analysis[edit | edit source]
Typical diagnoses[edit | edit source]
Therapeutical concept[edit | edit source]
Treatment planning[edit | edit source]
Measures[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Die Brügger Therapie. University Clinic Bonn, Neurological Department. Available from: https://neurologie.uni-bonn.de/physikalische-therapie/physiotherapie/die-bruegger-therapie.htm (last accessed 16. January 2021).
- ↑ Brugger Concept. Dagmar Pavlu. 6th World Congress of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, 2018. Available from: https://www.omicsonline.org/proceedings/brugger-concept-104925.html (last accessed 16 January 2021).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kubalek-Schröder S, Dehler F. Funktionsabhängige Beschwerdebilder des Bewegungssystems. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Medizin 2004, 2013.
