So
many of the points relate directly to my work with horses.
Physiotherapists:
Touch
people. Very few people can do this, and almost no others get to touch
people for therapeutic reasons. Some touch to perform a procedure, others
to care, but few touch to reduce pain, help move or build strength, flexibility
and power. The
best part of my job is being so close to horses all day every day! Actually,
thinking about it, that's just one of the many best bits of my job.... Read on!
Transform
people’s lives. Perhaps the most powerful effect of really great
physiotherapy is its ability to help people feel different: to give them
confidence to try something that’s been too painful or frightening to do for a
long time; to take control of their lives; to breathe more easily; to stand on
their own again; to move more freely; to be happier…Physiotherapists do this
every day, and rarely give themselves the credit they deserve for their
transformative power. This
is something that applies to anyone who works to help owners with their horses
I think. We put so much time, effort and money into owning a horse, that when
we can't follow our dreams it can be heartbreaking. Being a part of resolving
the problems truly can transform people's lives - loading a 'non-loader' is
probably near the top of the list!
Are
first contact professionals. Few others, outside medicine, have this privilege.
Awarded after many years of struggle and tests of our autonomy,
first-contact status isn’t available throughout the world for physiotherapists,
but it’s available in many countries. It’s a mark of our social capital
and the high regard physiotherapists are held in by society at large. This is an interesting one,
because as yet Physiotherapists have not achieved autonomy in the animal world.
This is partially due to the lack of protection of title, meaning that there is
a wide variety of level of qualification of animal physiotherapist. This can
lead to a mistrust from vets and confusion amongst owners. The recent emergence
of the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Therapists (
www.rampregister.org) will hopefully
begin to address this over time to a degree. You can find your local Chartered Physiotherapist at
www.acpat.co.uk.
Are diagnosticians. Because many physios
can see people without a medical referral, they need to be able to
differentially diagnose. That skill comes with a lot of expectations
about physiotherapists’ safety, and ability to show consistently that
they can handle the responsibility. The same applies
with diagnostics as with autonomy, as discussed above. At present the law
states that only a vet can diagnose in relation to an animal.
Are
safe and trusted. People trust physiotherapists. We deal with some
of the most intimate, personal aspects of people’s lives – from death and
dying, to personal bodily dysfunction and the heartache of suffering, and act
as a constant companion in times of strife. I'd love to think this was true, and certainly I think that
a good therapist builds a bond with their clients, animal and human. The lack
of protection of title issue again can lead to confusion here though, and more
than once I've been called out as a behaviourist to an animal that has
supposedly been given the all clear by 'the physio' only to find considerable discomfort
causing the behaviour. Perhaps that discomfort wasn't presenting on the day the
horse was previously assessed, but if the behaviour has stayed the same and the
history suggests that the behaviour is linked to the particular pattern of
pain, then I'll leave you to your own thoughts.
Are
powerful advocates. Because physiotherapists have earned a high degree of
social support, they can speak up for those less fortunate, and advocate
for people whose voices are not being heard. Marginalised communities,
children, the elderly, disabled people…whomever they serve, countless
people benefit from physiotherapists’ voice and support. This is what drove me to
write Brain, Pain or Training, the central theme of which is 'horses can only
demonstrate pain or discomfort through their behaviour or performance'. To me,
being a horse physio is ALL about being an advocate for the horse.
Are
experienced. One of the greatest assets physiotherapists have is their
access to the public health system. Working with people who have had
strokes, or live with COPD, chronic low back pain or depression helps when
it comes to treating the elite athlete, the child with cerebral palsy or the
post-op patient. Experiencing the rich tapestry of life
gives physiotherapists enormous advantages over many other healthcare
professions. To
qualify as a Chartered Physiotherapist took me 7 years. You can
qualify through different routes as an animal physio or veterinary physio in
just a few weeks or months, but the Chartered status means that I qualified to
treat humans and then studied further to qualify to treat animals. I work full
time treating horses. There is always more to learn and I never, ever feel as
though I know enough, but yes, I have a great deal more experience in assessing
and treating a horse as a physio than the average horse owner or instructor.
Work with
people, not just bodies. All good physiotherapists know that it’s not
enough to treat the body-as-machine, or to look no further than anatomy,
physiology and pathology when treating people. To know people as social
beings and the ways that our feelings, thoughts and emotions affect how we feel
makes the difference between being technicians and practitioners. And
physiotherapists are fabulous practitioners. This was my reason for becoming a physiotherapist
rather than a doctor or a vet. I like working with the 'whole', and in
particular I like working with the horse and owner as a partnership. Improving
or developing a partnership is what gives me job satisfaction.
Are inclusive. Physiotherapists have worked in teams and
been dependent on the help of others from the outset. They are good at
knowing their limits and not stepping on others’ toes. They’re
often seen as pragmatic, enthusiastic and motivated people who like to get
things done. As they have shown for many years that we make great allies.
One
of the things I strive towards always is knowing my own limits and referring on
appropriately. I'm lucky in that I've developed a wide range of knowledge over
the years, and I worked very hard to provide an exceptional range of 'allies'
in the 27 guest contributors to my book and DVD 'Brain, Pain or Training' (http://www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/store/index.php?product/page/3183/Brain%2C+Pain%2C+or+Training+-++Book+and+DVD).
Are adaptable. No matter how
difficult things seem right now, people will always want someone to use their
hands in skillful, caring ways to heal them of their suffering; they will
always want people who can see them move and work out what is going wrong; and
they will always call for professionals they can trust, who care for them, not
just their illness. Working with horses
always requires adaptability. Whether it's adapting to working in the stable or
on the yard depending on where the horse is most relaxed, or adapting your
techniques to suit the individual behaviour of the horse, or adapting your
advice towards the happy hacker or the professional, being an equine physio is
about constantly adapting to offer the best you can to both horse and owner.
