OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Feldenkrais method is an effective intervention for chronic neck/scapular pain in patients with visual impairment. DESIGN: Randomized control trial with untreated control group. SETTING: Low-vision center in Orebro County, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Total of 61 visually impaired patients (mean 53.3 years) with nonspecific chronic (mean 23.8 years) neck/scapular pain. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to the Feldenkrais group (n = 30) or untreated control group (n = 31). Patients in the treatment group underwent one 2-hour Feldenkrais session per week during 12 consecutive weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blind assessment of perceived pain (visual analog scale (VAS)) during physical therapist palpation of the left and right occiput, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae muscle areas. Self-assessed degree of pain on the Visual, Musculoskeletal, and Balance Complaints questionnaire (VMB) and the Short Form-36 Bodily Pain Scale (SF36-BPS). RESULTS: Patients undergoing Feldenkrais reported significantly less pain than the controls according to the VAS and VMB ratings at follow-up and 1-year follow-up. There were no significant differences regarding the SF36-BPS ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Feldenkrais is an effective intervention for chronic neck/scapular pain in patients with visual impairment.

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