Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a multidimensional experience that also involves religious and cultural factors. In many Western countries, there is now a significant prevalence of Muslims who need or will need physiotherapy care, but there is relatively little attention paid to the influence of the spiritual sphere on their conceptions of illness and suffering. Little is also known about the value placed by the Islamic religion on the treatment of physical pain and trust in health professionals.
Through a qualitative study, we aimed to investigate the perception and experience of chronic musculoskeletal pain, to explore the meaning of physical suffering and the value of care in the Muslim patient, and to offer some insights for the development of intercultural skills on the part of the physiotherapist.