Feeling frustrated with your body??
There are so many treatment modalities & treatment styles out there, how should you know which to choose & which therapist is best for your issue?
Let’s define your pain first..
Acute pain is when you tear, sprain, snap, or that dreaded popping sensation. It usually has inflammation, bruising or fluid associated with it.
To treat acute injuries, a Physiotherapist is your best choice. They can rehabilitate tears & are certainly a must for recovery post-surgery.
Chronic pain is persistent pain for more than 3 months, or reoccurring over a long period of time. Headache, migraines, back ache, sciatic or arthritic pain type conditions.
A Chiropractor may focus on detecting and correcting spinal, soft tissue and neural dysfunction.
A Myotherapist may treat you by focusing on assessment, rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain or
manipulation of tendons & muscles.
A Remedial Massage has the primary intention of stimulating the nervous system to help reduce muscle tension, by focusing on the residual tension in a resting muscle & correcting the muscles that aren’t actively working properly.
A Osteopath may manipulate the bones & joints, use myofascial release techniques and other physical manipulation of muscle tissue.
A Physio may give you corrective strengthening exercises that can also help alleviate pain.
All of these therapies can resolve pain by deactivating trigger points within the muscles or activating a healing response. Each treatments intentions and approaches overlap to some extent, but also maintain unique differences.
In some cases we might also identify the need to refer you to a Podiatrist to assess or correct the way you walk. This may help prevent your issue reoccurring permanently.
Ok. So now, what to look for in a practitioner…
Suggestion 1: A good therapist is actually passionate about helping you to get better! It’s why they’re in the industry.
This creates TRUST!…which is the key to how well you will respond to the treatment.
Suggestion 2: A great therapist is willing to adapt & problem solve until they achieve results.
There’s actually more than one way to resolve the same complaint.
Through talking to a large number of therapists & working in a clinic with other allied health practitioners I’ve noticed most of us are able to adapt our approach to how is going to best suit YOU.
Suggestion 3: Communication!
There is a significant connection between the therapists verbal & non-verbal skills & client satisfaction.
You should feel like you’re aligned with each other & on the same page with the direction of the sessions. Have you felt heard?
If there’s no miscommunication this helps develop honesty & transparency in treatment (again, see TRUST).
We’ve learnt from our clients over years of being exposed to pain & the emotion that’s attached with it, so you should feel your fears are addressed promptly by the therapist.
Suggestion 4: Authority.
Has someone recommended them? Look for genuine, engaged & motivated.
Even if you don’t care to know about the strategy or details of the plan…you should be confident in knowing the therapist has one.
In my opinion you need to be noticing results between 3-5 appointments. I prefer the client has felt relief or some kind of change by the second appointment.
Authority is also defined by having enough accountability that if they are not getting results that they’re prepared to look at referring you to a therapy more appropriate to your complaint.
If they don’t work in conjunction with other health professionals for the benefit of your outcome, you’ve got to wonder why?
When this disconnect exists, everyone suffers.
Collaborated care means outcomes are achieved & everyone benefits!
Hopefully this is helpful
Kylie x
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