A Day in the Life of a Physiotherapist
Q: What is the Life of a Physiotherapist Really Like?
A: A Lemonade Stand.
What would it be like to be unable to hold your newborn due to painful wrists, swollen with carpal tunnel? Imagine struggling with balance to the extent you fear falling when simply preparing a sandwich. Juggling being a single parent is tough - but how would it feel if your thoughts were muddled, emotions ran high and your energy sapped bigtime due to suffering a concussion in a car crash?
Physiotherapists have the privilege of coaching people. Real people. People with real world and meaningful problems like the ones above. We tackle these problems with clients and come up with solutions together. It is teamwork. Imagine going to work every day with people motivated to improve? How’s that for inspiring a growth mindset?! Wouldn’t it be great to see the smile on someone's face when their pain improves to the extent it allows them to sleep through the night for the first time in a month? What would you feel like, if, at every turn, you could work with someone and achieve a meaningful change?
That is why I became a physiotherapist: I work with people to turn their lemons into lemonade.
It feels great to work as a physio.
What is Physiotherapy?
Most people have no idea what physiotherapy actually means or entails! Physiotherapy aims to:
Prevent injury
Restore function
Restore mobility
Pinpoint an injury’s root cause
Minimize the effects of disease and disability
What Kind of Treatments Do Physiotherapists Perform?
Many ask what I actually do? The answer is I combine many different approaches to help
you recover faster! There is no one size fits all approach, and I always want to tailor and
customize the treatments we deliver. Here are some of the different treatments we use during
a session for someone with a bone, ligament or muscle problem:
Manual therapy – release tension in the muscles and joints
Modalities - these are machines (like laser, ultrasound) or items (like tape, acupuncture) to put on the body to affect blood flow or coach the body into a new position
Goal setting and measurement - determine how much progress we are making toward a goal (like reaching overhead, for example)
Posture and body mechanics - working on positioning, proper mechanics when lifting
Exercise prescription - which ones, how to perform them, when to do them and for how long
Education - what to expect during recovery, how the body heals and how to help it.
Q: What Does a Physiotherapist Spend Their Day Doing?
A: Physiotherapists Spend Their Days on Their Toes.
What!? Like in ballet?! No! What I mean is that our days are so varied, adapting to our client’s unique needs and goals all keep us on our toes!
In one day it is not uncommon to treat:
A teenager who's pitching arm is sore after last night’s game
A senior with a hip replacement discharged 7 days ago from hospital
A truck driver that sustained a car crash 4 months ago who is having a hard time keeping their injured arm on the wheel for more than 4 hours a day
An accountant whose hands are numb have been going numb due to repetitive typing and mousing
These persons have needs that are unique to their situations. How do we know what treatment to do with what client? How do you tailor each therapy session to the unique needs of each person?
Let me tell you a secret - most physiotherapy is as simple as 1,2,3,4! For persons with a new or acute injury of their bones, ligaments and tendons, we just follow 4 easy steps!
Pain Control - pain control exercises, modalities, manual therapy and education strategies are provided
Range of motion recovery - manual therapy that focuses on maximizing movement, stretches. - supported and combined range of motion exercises come next
Strength - once a joint can move, ensuring that it is supported by muscles whose timing/coordination/onset of contraction is protective and useful to the body, manual muscle cuing is often used
Sport or activity specific movement recovery - unique movements, such as knitting endurance, throwing a baseball or operating a welders torch for prolonged periods need specialized exercises and interventions
What’s the trick? A physiotherapist has the refined ability to find where you are on this 1-2-3-4 process. They have tips and tricks that will help you work with your body’s natural healing to bring you quickly to the next stage. By the time you reach stage 4 you are achieving YOUR goals!
See You in the Clinic?!
You, or someone you know, may also be struggling with some real world challenges. We’d love to see you to address your goals using our toolbox of skills to help bring you through all 4 stages of recovery. Contact us, we will set up a day and time to meet.
Together, we will tackle turning your lemons into lemonade!
-Alison Christensen, PT
FAQ
Who Needs Physiotherapy?
Anyone that would like to recover from an injury, prevent and injury, as well as learn more about posture, and regular exercises.
Do you treat every patient with a shoulder injury, for example, the same way?
All clients are assessed and their individual abilities, symptoms and goals direct their care. The plan of care designed by the physiotherapist is tailored to their unique needs.
I use heat at home and follow a regular exercise routine. My pain still has not gone away. What can a physiotherapist add?
Physiotherapists have advanced training in pain science, tissue healing and graded progressions of exercise. We see new clients daily that have attempted self management of their pain with unsuccessful results. A physiotherapist’s knowledge can turn this situation around quickly. With your excellent habits, we will refine your home routines, add some manual or modality therapies and together we will return you to what you want to be doing quickly!
