
Prior to his current role in Olympic sport Ben has been involved in professional rugby union and rugby league, most noticeably with the Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and the Huddersfield Giants, the later where he was the Head of Physiotherapy and Rehab.
Prior to working in football at the FA, Caroline has worked in top flight Rugby Union with both the Northampton Saints and Gloucester, in the NHS, within University sport, with the Great Britain handball team and in a host of other roles.
This is 100% true.
But I’m not talking here about your patients assessments but actually your OWN assessment as a therapist.
What exercises do you pick?
How many reps or sets should your patient do?
I’m sure you have seen those patients that seem to get better, sometimes quickly, but then just as quickly, they regress…
It is the simple tests that are often the best tests!
This test can give you some important information about your patient’s knee injury…
Often these injuries are mistaken for lateral ankle injuries like an ATFL or CFL ligament injury…
I used to worry that I would make this kind of patient worse…
And before you even get chance to explain what is going on…
The doctor just gives you some pills and shows you the door.
They will have different injuries…
Different past medical histories…
And wonder what treatment technique or rehab exercise to use once you have finished your patient assessments…
Then this podcast episode is for you!
I hold my hands up and admit that I used to think it was…
And worse still, I admit I gave it this diagnosis to 100’s of patients and the athletes that I worked with.
Those textbook shoulder, knee or lower back pain patients never walk in to your clinic…
And worse than this…
The reason…
Just in the last 12 months Jade has progressed from being turned down for jobs in both clinics and at professional sports clubs in favour of other sports therapists and physio’s…
So you can treat even tricky ankle patients!
We were 4 months in to a 9 month rehab programme and he had been struggling for the last 3 months…
I have learnt a lot over the last 10 years…
But despite what many therapists believe…
Or even sedentary activities like sitting or driving, so it often doesn’t take much to irritate symptoms…
I’m sure you found yourself treating the same muscles, improving patient symptoms, only to see their symptoms quickly return as quickly as they went away…
You are not going to see many of these cases but you need to know what patient signs and symptoms might make you suspect this injury…
…should you let the knees come over the toes?
Many therapists think that letting your knees come over your toes is bad for your knees.
…or sometimes find your current techniques don’t get the results you want…
Beyond your usual application of ice, compression and elevation etc, one big decision is you need to make is should you protect the ankle?
Maybe you experienced this as a student…
…when you were not been given the same opportunities on placements and…
How do you know a job is right for you?
Learn how he was able to transition from University…
…and fly up the career ladder faster than anyone ever thought possible?
This worry is common but results in many therapists applying a very conservative rehab plan, sometimes even prescribing ‘rest’…
EPISODE 44 – NewGrad Physio: “Where To Start With A Hamstring Injury”
Would you know how to manage each of these different issues?
EPISODE 43 – NewGrad Physio: “Taking Away The Fear Of Treating Neck Pain”
Maybe sometimes you…
EPISODE 42 – NewGrad Physio: “Knee Assessments Made Easy”
It’s a hinge joint, it flexes and extends (it also internally and externally rotates) but lets’ keep it simple…
EPISODE 41 – NewGrad Physio: “Where To Start With Shoulder Treatment & Rehab”
It is a complex joint, with many structures.
It is well evidenced that many shoulder special tests have poor sensitivity…
EPISODE 40 – NewGrad Physio: “Get Your First Job Or Promotion Even During Lock-Down”
Private clinics are shut, sport as we know is has stopped and almost everything other than front line care in the NHS has been cancelled.
EPISODE 39 – NewGrad Physio: “Why Rehab Goes Wrong – The Real Reason Patients Pain Comes Back”
A common time to encounter rehab problems is when patients go back to higher-level activities like running, the gym, back to work or return to sport.
Do you worry how you patient will respond and how they will turn up at their next appointment?
That what patients say and how they present is hugely different to what we were told at University.
The result…
They go back to higher-level activities like the gym, running or sport.
Once activity levels are increased their pain often returns, leaving the patient and the you…
This present a BIG problem as these injuries are managed in the same way as a lateral ankle injury…
Most therapists are finding they have more time on their hands and as such, it is a great opportunity to develop your skills and spend more dedicated and uninterrupted time on your CPD…
I’m sure you’ve been asked those questions from your patient like…
We assess our patients…
If you can get your head around this important concept it will make your management of problems like ‘anterior knee pain,’ ‘shoulder impingement’ and other overuse injuries much easier…
Pain can persist, with patients struggling to return to normal function, particularly more active patients, resulting in BIG frustration as a therapist, when despite your best efforts, your patients shoulder pain continues…
At the end of the assessment, (ideally at the end of the subjective assessment), you should be able to able to diagnosis what your patient’s problem is – or so you were told at University…
It is generally thought that making mistakes is generally a good thing as a New Grad; as you are said to learn from these experiences and as a result get better…
Patients and athletes alike have often had these problems for long periods, have tried and failed rehab previously and some have even been told they ‘may have to live with their problem,’ or even worse, ‘give up’ their activity or sport…
Even if they present very differently in your clinic room…
Maybe you label these patients as ‘lazy’ or think ‘they’re not really that bothered about getting better.’
Patients then don’t progress and as a therapist you may sometimes find yourself trying various treatment techniques and rehab exercises to try get on top of their symptoms…
Some patients need urgent onward referral, but many, just need our help in the form of hands-on treatment and rehab…
Failure to do this and you risk putting your patients or athletes at further risk of injury and also, without a definitive diagnosis, it makes it difficult for you to manage their injury in the best possible way, resulting in poor treatment outcomes…
This might be to spend more time on CPD, learn a particular skill-set, gain better working hours and more responsibility, gain that next…
In episode #20 you will find out how, as I detail what we did at each and every step…
So, what are we missing?
When managed well, patients and athletes can return to full activity quickly, having accelerated through their treatment plan…
Problem is, it isn’t even a diagnosis and more importantly than that, giving ‘sciatica’ as a diagnosis may be causing you to focus on the wrong problems, leading to poor treatment effects and ineffective patient outcomes…
We will cover why you need continued support when you graduate if you want to make continued improvements in your clinical practice and your ability to help your patients in a way you feel they deserve…
Regardless of how great your patient assessment, hands-on treatment techniques and treatment plan might be, all this great work can be undone if you cannot get your…
Regardless of your current thoughts regarding manual therapy you need to listen to this podcast episode because you will discover WHY manual therapy gets a bad name…
In the podcast you will discover…
Those early years are tough enough without having to overcome patient resistance to your advice and interventions just because they perceive you as being…
Most therapists WRONGLY accuse these patients of being ‘lazy’ or ‘not caring’ about their health…
So much WASTED time and attention is given to a patient’s diagnosis, but in doing so, so many New Grad Physio’s are missing the BIG point about what…
I will talk through a BIG ‘A-HA’ moment I had as a New Grad Physio that made me realise the skill-sets that I needed improve, which helped me fast-track my learning and development in these specific areas…
Maybe you don’t want to follow the ‘traditional’ NHS rotation route and have a clear idea about where you want your career to go…
Once you know this Real Reason you can really start to understand how..
EPISODE 3 – NewGrad Physio: “How A Night In A&E Taught Me A Valuable Communication Lesson”
EPISODE 2 – NewGrad Physio: “Why Competency Is King”
EPISODE 1 – NewGrad Physio: “How To Find More Time In Your Busy Week For CPD”