Comment on Reflections on 30 years as a Physiotherapist by Claire.

Fab piece! I was so nearly on that MSc at Southampton in 1991….but Neils dad (boss there at the time) scared me away!! But… we (that generation of physios) have always taught patients to move and to move well and not be scared- the body is remarkably restorable- and as for the multifidus phase….I said it was crap and got told off!! Also got told off for getting a chronic pain patient better with chronic heel pain sent from a spinal consultant as I told him to stretch his sciatic nerve with ANT (as it was then…- re-invented PNF an old physio in the department called it….) and despite movement curing it I got called in for not doing as I was told and daring to counter a diagnosis NOT of back referred pain but HEEL pain!!! Hey!! Still working as a physio in a great profession and still advocating movement over relying on me but empathy and some hands on is not bad- its all in the delivery and proper understanding of patients physically and mentally. I still love the challenge of patients and enjoy seeing all the younger physio generation on Twitter discovering that movement is key……. and we were the Maitland McKenzie Cyriax graduates hungry for cures but that was our foundation, before the excitement of Mulligans and ANT and taping shoulders and patellas medially became fashionable….and lets face it -that was the 90’s)!! As for the grand grade 5 manip- when you were experienced enough as a senior 2…….don”t get me started. A big physio tool box is key. Empathy and reassurance is everything!