Educating Physiotherapists

Part 1 (how many more to come?)

“All strokes are different”. Our physios seems to accept this as gospel so for blood clot, loss of blood to the right hemisphere, many different parts are available, so differences are okay.

Stroke affects can be compared for the tens of thousands of stroke patients treated per year. These would have to be recorded buy neurologists at the acute hospital and could be used as a basis for finding half a dozen identical strokes. You would have to select identical twins to rule out other health factors. This also requires standard report recording of all the ‘minor’ stroke affects of which there are dozens. So it seems that for the rare fluke, all strokes are different.

However, because strokes have many parts, I am able to show that all of our chosen strokes are 100% the same! The right hemisphere brain controls the left side body movements via a bundle of nerves which cross the midline barrier and via versa right to left. Don’t blame me, I would have designed it another way.

Part 2

Disclosure – The author’s background is in ‘Recovery from Stroke’. The physio who helped and commented is a five year university graduate. None of which proves that we know of which we write.

Try this. The right brain hemisphere controls the left side body movements. The left side hemisphere controls right side body movements.

Now sit on a chair with your hands on your knees, then clasp your fingers together, time after time, only stopping when you have worked out why your fingers always interlock in the same way, which is comfortable. This ramble just shows how curiosity can lead to strange and if correctly directed, valuable results or not.

Part 3 – Psychology

My physio said that psychology was not studied for her degree. I consider this an unfortunate omission. The physio must be in charge of any treatment relationships with clients. Some men may resent being bossed around by a female physio. Personality changes after stroke could make stroke patients more difficult. Psychologist are available either as visitors or staff in rehab hospitals or clinics. I’m not a great admirer of the worrier profession.

Part 4 – The scientific method.

This seems to be used in practice with exercises being increased or decreased in difficultly, depending on how the client is coping. The client should be given a simpler test before sending him home with some sense of achievement.

Part 5 – Home visits

Exercise set at home can be expanded. Four by two hours, plus one hour gym session.

Part 6 – Learn to Hover

For instance, your client is doing a walk test without a stick, but with a safety belt. When he reaches the end spot, he tried to turn around before stopping and stated to fall. The physio was close enough to grab the safety belt in time to save me from a fall.

Part 7 – Repetitive exercise.

100 to 200 sit to stands are enough to cover normal needs for weeks, so why the excess? Our crafty physios are building up your leg muscles so that stairs will be no problem.

To physios, bless your little hearts, and to you Ted, carry on recovering.