Body Reprogramming

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About Body Reprogramming

Body reprogramming is a course provided by the NHS which is designed to help people with a central sensitivity syndrome, such as, fibromyalgia. It provides an understanding of the condition and how best to manage it to improve health. Body reprogramming comes from a new way of thinking about the body, called ‘the Hyland model’. The model is based on the founding principles of systems biology and complexity theory and where the body is understood as a biologically intelligent system.

An exciting feature is that that over 50 patients with central sensitivity syndrome and fibromyalgia have helped bring the conceptual model to life in the form of a body reprogramming course.

Who is body reprogramming for?

Some patients have multiple symptoms, for example, widespread pain, fatigue, mental fog, stomach problems, poor sleep, and sensitivity to bright lights and noise. Often, when they seek help from a doctor they are not provided with a clear explanation for their symptoms. Some patients are given a diagnosis such as central sensitivity syndrome, or medical unexplained symptoms or fibromyalgia. Other patients have multiple diagnoses, for example, fibromyalgia with irritable bowel syndrome. These diagnoses can be confusing and often raise more questions than answers. Patients will often say that their doctor seems to know as little about the condition as they themselves.

Body reprogramming is for those patients with a long term condition, such as central sensitivity syndrome or fibromyalgia and are seeking to understand this condition better.

Course for patients

In Plymouth, a body reprogramming course has been developed and may be available through your doctor. Other regions on the UK are considering starting body reprogramming courses.

Patient Guide

This guide is for people who have been diagnosed by their doctor with a Central Sensitivity Syndrome such as fibromyalgia or a condition which your doctor feels it may be helpful.

Body reprogramming is not a substitute for other medicines, treatments or therapies prescribed by your doctor. It can be combined with therapies and medical treatments when these are needed by patients.

Body Reprogramming patient guide (English).pdf [pdf] 807KB

Body Reprogramming patient guide in other languages:

مسجلا ةجمرب ةداعإ
دنلايه جذومن مادختسإب ف اشتلل ضيرملا ليلد (Arabic language guide)
.pdf [pdf] 1MB

Ratgeber (German language guide).pdf [pdf] 586KB

Riprogrammare il Corpo (Italian Language guide).pdf [pdf] 6MB

Español Guía (Spanish language guide).pdf [pdf] 267KB

Reprogrammation Corporelle Guide a l' usage des patients (French language guide).pdf [pdf] 1MB

Videos

Videos about the course, the theory and practice

 

The Hyland model explained

Watch our video where Professor Michael Hyland explains the model on which body reprogramming is based.

 

Patient Feedback

Anonymous patient feedback from those who attended the body reprogramming course:

 

"I was a bit sceptical at first that the Reprogramming Course would work, after all nothing had helped in the past and how was this going to be different. I’m glad to say that I was wrong to be sceptical. At the first session I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, the explanation we were given as to why we suffered from Fibromyalgia just made everything fall into place."

 

"I am so glad my doctor thought of me for this program because my life has changed for the better I’ve changed so many things about my life and I would never have done that or even known how without the help of this fabulous group."

 

"This course should be rolled out to everyone in the country. If I had been on this course 19 years ago this would have saved the NHS thousands of pounds of appointment, scans and physio, etc. This must be rolled out!"

 

"THANK YOU all, it’s helped me so much to have things to work on. I’ve looked forward to coming although before I didn’t want to meet with anyone as I got panicky."

 

"I have learned a lot about meds I’m taking and what others are taking and their benefits and what they’re not good for."

 

"I wish this course had been around YEARS ago. This has been a revelation and has given our family ‘hope’ where we thought there was none."

 

"Very informative and so refreshing to find answers to problems I’ve had for over 14 years and wonderful to be able to self believe “It’s not in my head” as I’ve self doubted so many times."

 

"I felt very empowered by the group. Great to have other people around me having same condition and the staff have a wide knowledge in their field, very informative. The group has given me confidence in expressing to the people around me now I feel. I never would have done this before."

 

"I didn’t know what to expect when coming here and was really nervous but after meeting everyone I calmed down as everyone and so nice and understanding. When XXXXX was explaining things and symptoms I recognised a lot of them in myself and found this very helpful as [it’s] not all in my mind."

 

"I’m finding these sessions really helpful, making me think differently. They are being run by people that actually care and [who are] passionate about how we are and how we feel. Helping us on a hopeful journey for a great future with dealing with a condition that’s not very nice. Thank you."

 

"I have found the tools and guidance very helpful and I am confident they will help me on my path to improvement of my condition…… I think this course is very helpful and could really be offered to anyone suffering from a long term life changing medical condition. Thank you for running it and for offering me a place."

 

"It has been nice to meet new people who understand what I am going through and not to be made to feel silly or that I am lying or exaggerating how I feel."

 

"It was good to meet other people with fibro to know how it’s not always the same from one person to the next. I have learnt to listen to my body and rest when I need to."

 

"I found out things that I didn’t know to enable me to go forward and better my condition. Good interaction with all attendees and tutors."

 

"I am able to listen to my body and be mindful of my posture and periods of stress with the tools and advice given. I have no bad or negative points."

 

Research Publications

Evidence of Body Reprogramming’s effectiveness

Lanario JW, Hudson E, Locher C, Dee A, Elliot K, Davies AF. Body reprogramming for fibromyalgia and central sensitivity syndrome: A preliminary evaluation. SAGE Open Medicine. 2023 Oct;11:

Go to article: Body reprogramming for fibromyalgia and central sensitivity syndrome: A preliminary evaluation.

Explanation of the model

Hyland ME, Hinton C, Hill C, Whalley B, Jones RC, Davies AF. Explaining unexplained pain to fibromyalgia patients: finding a narrative that is acceptable to patients and provides a rationale for evidence based interventions. British Journal of Pain. 2016 Aug;10(3):156-61.

Go to article: Explaining unexplained pain to fibromyalgia patients: finding a narrative that is acceptable to patients and provides a rationale for evidence based interventions.

Davies AF, Hill P, Fay D, Dee A, Locher C. Body reprogramming: reframing the fibromyalgia narrative and providing an integrative therapeutic model. Health Psychology Open. 2020 Nov;7(2):

Go to article: Body reprogramming: reframing the fibromyalgia narrative and providing an integrative therapeutic model. Health Psychology

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