From Clinic to Content

How I translate patient encounters to physical therapy lessons

Depending on the patient demographics, clinic location and patient load, a physical therapists manage multiple cases and conditions every working day. And it is really a challenge to switch mindset based on the patient’s status and progress.

Ever since I started my private practice, I have always been observant on all the nuances and happenings around me every patient visit. Because it’s like a new adventure every hour and though there were times that it is physically tiring and emotionally draining, I can help but wonder what else could happen in the next minute.

I have grown more interest in exploring other aspects of PT practice that I could tap into in this new found journey. And through this, I have come to realize that even though the cases that we handle in the clinics seem “common” and repetitive on a PT point-of-view, the patient that we encounter were actually a beginner on their particular situation.

Which means, every new patient meeting is a great opportunity to educate and advocate. And therefore, in some sense, there is also a great potential to inform more people about our practice.

The Inspiration

In Austin Kleon’s Book: Show Your Work, he mentioned about “letting go of our egos and sharing our process, to allow the possibility of people having an ongoing connection with our work which in turn help moves our product- on in my case, the physical therapy services that I offer” And that’s how I was more inspired to document what I do and share the process I go through.

Because I would always remember the feeling of being asked “can you give me a massage?” and having to take courage and swallow my pride to say “I am not a masseuse, and but I could also help manage your situation by doing more”.

Talking to myself and saying “give them benefit of the doubt, because PT is not a familiar profession” but also fighting the urge to say more and explain more.

Moving Forward

There is no better time to do it, but now. Because more people are actually engaged to technology and there is a great opportunity to provide information to guide other people, just like how we do it in the clinics.

Whenever there is a new patient that comes in and ask questions, I always try my best to answer and help. But at the same time, I also try to remember their pain points and frustrations so as to share it with more people.

And it actually feels good knowing, that almost 10 years ago, I was also in the same shoes as this people not knowing anything about physical therapy and started it out as a complete beginner. But now, having to gain knowledge and experience, wanting to share the lessons I have learned and pass it on.

Comments

Knee Mobility Exercises for Osteoarthritis

Knee Mobility Exercises for Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis aka OA is one of the most common types of arthritis that involves degeneration of cartilage that causes pain, stiffness, reduced movement, and functional limitation. This medical condition usually affects the weight bearing joints such as the hip and the knee. Although the cause of OA is unknown, there are factors that predisposes a patient to acquire the disease such as a previous injury and obesity. Activities with repetitive use of the joint such as kneeling, prolonged standing and jumping can also increase the risk for OA. Usually when a patient comes to the clinic diagnosed with osteoarthritis or OA, their chief complaint would be difficulty of moving the knee and getting out of the bed. Sometimes, a patient could also report morning stiffness and crepitus (cracking sounds) upon movement. There are varying degrees of treatment of OA depending on the severity of the condition. As a physical therapist, I always like to e...

My PT notes

H ello there! I'm not sure if I should introduce myself, but in case you don't know my name is Louise. I am a licensed physical therapist in the Philippines. But on the internet world I am just another aspiring writer and content creator- well sort of? I guess I should start on why I am writing here today. I have to take you back to my childhood years where teachers, parents and even relatives would always ask an innocent child on "what do you want to be when you grow up?". Back then I'll always have a generic answer of I want to be a doctor, even though all I knew about them is they wear white jacket and a stethoscope around their neck, asking a patient to inhale and exhale. But as I grew up I was exposed to the medical world through my mother who is a midwife. We do not have baby sitter, so if no one is available to take care of me and my brother, our mom would usually bring us to work at let us stay in the nursing station, at the locker room, at the delivery r...

Journey to Becoming a Physical Therapist: Setting the Stage

B ecoming a physical therapist is a long and unwinding road. But, if it is your passion and dream, the journey could be fun and exciting. So let me share my story of becoming a physical therapist which started almost 15 years ago. When you reach your senior year, sharing your plans (ie. College) is mandatory. Your parents, friends, and teachers would ask you the dreading question "What course would you like to take in college?", "what school are you going to apply for?", what plans do you have after graduation?" Back then I considered myself a happy-go-lucky child, who just goes with the flow with whatever is happening around me. So, when I was called at the guidance office for career counseling my only answer was, I'm not sure which school to go to but I am considering a pre-med course to take so I can eventually be a doctor. My counselor gave me a few lists of courses and schools that I could consider, and I went out of the office questioning myself and ...

PT Louise

Search This Blog