Introduction
Across Edinburgh, the UK, and beyond, I have observed many different clinics and their responses to the pandemic. I have taken the step to move MCST online for virtual appointments only to protect my clients and public safety. Thanks to the marvels of social media and virtual connection the spread of information has encouraged many of us to take constructive steps, such as virtual appointments in response to the spread of the global pandemic.
Although Sports Therapists are often associated with hands-on massage skills, I am not a ‘manual therapy extremist’ myself. I accompany any treatment interventions with advice and exercise ensuring the patient is aware that treatment is not the most important factor in recovery. However, my branding and marketing would certainly suggest ‘hands-on’ treatment. Being well-reputed for hands-on intervention may well have set me back when ‘virtual’ has become my only option. Historically, I have utilised any treatment time with patients not only for hands-on modalities, but to educate and empower them with knowledge that they can use for the future. This article outlines the negatives, positives and genuine outcomes of my virtual injury management.
Across Edinburgh, the UK, and beyond, I have observed many different clinics and their responses to the pandemic. I have taken the step to move MCST online for virtual appointments only to protect my clients and public safety. Thanks to the marvels of social media and virtual connection the spread of information has encouraged many of us to take constructive steps, such as virtual appointments in response to the spread of the global pandemic.
Although Sports Therapists are often associated with hands-on massage skills, I am not a ‘manual therapy extremist’ myself. I accompany any treatment interventions with advice and exercise ensuring the patient is aware that treatment is not the most important factor in recovery. However, my branding and marketing would certainly suggest ‘hands-on’ treatment. Being well-reputed for hands-on intervention may well have set me back when ‘virtual’ has become my only option. Historically, I have utilised any treatment time with patients not only for hands-on modalities, but to educate and empower them with knowledge that they can use for the future. This article outlines the negatives, positives and genuine outcomes of my virtual injury management.
The negatives
Difficulties exist for business owners and practitioner, however, more importantly, for the patient. Think of the first memory where you ever had an ailment, illness or health-related issue. You were likely a child and visited the doctor’s office. Your mother may have spoken for you or encouraged you to speak to the doctor if you were brave enough to be a ‘grown-up’. The doctor, no doubt, helped you recover from whatever it was that brought you to them. This learned correlation of meeting in-person with the specialist and then recovering will likely never leave us. In every patients’ own mapped-out journey of how their injury should improve, the first step is usually always meeting with that first point of contact, the practitioner. The pandemic has put barriers in our way and we can only try our best to adapt and overcome them.
Right now, marketing companies on social media will make you feel inadequate for not having a full diary like you used to. Truthfully, it would take a huge amount of time for any clinic to get anywhere near their usual level with virtual appointments. There is no discredit in this and it is not due to lack of effort or understanding. Adapting to adversity isn’t about being perfect - it’s about adapting to adversity. Personally, I have been certain not to push my virtual services too hard, especially in a time where many are sensitive and have many other things going on. I simply cannot expect every patient who normally uses my services in the regular mechanism to utilise my virtual services as eagerly. Perhaps every patient perceives the value of my sessions differently. I’d much rather see regular numbers resume safely when appropriate and withstand a short period of disruption for the greater good of the public’s health. My virtual services will be available to those who need them.
The positives
I have found that interpreting symptoms and pain behaviours as well as distinguishing pain mechanisms has become easier when there is no hands-on treatment pending. Subjective consultations feel less rushed and patients seem more in-tune with their thoughts and feelings, and truly epitomise the biopsychosocial model of pain. I’ve found myself setting inventive functional outcome measures and demonstrating effective methods of self-treatment. I’d never thought I’d say this especially when the pandemic began, yet running the clinic from home (business worries aside) has been enjoyable. The feedback from patients has been excellent and the clarity of communication has been laser sharp (internet connection issues aside).
Positives also exist for the patient using the virtual services. During a time of increasing uncertainty, it is probable that anxieties have risen: this is likely, at least on a general level, although some patients may have much more severe mental health implications circumstantially. Research would tell us that with such raised stress, the pain experience can be augmented (the exact same applies vice versa). I have had opportunities to put patients’ minds at ease and provide actionable information with every virtual appointment. To recover from injury, avoid chronic pain, or even to avoid worsening of pain are all huge positives for many patients at this uncertain time.
Conclusion
To conclude, virtual appointments are an effective way of offering support to the patients in need. Although they may not be as comprehensive as face-to-face appointments, they can play an essential part in the much wider issue of managing the wellbeing of the public from a neuromusculosketal and mental health perspective.
Thank you for reading!
Murray Collier
Difficulties exist for business owners and practitioner, however, more importantly, for the patient. Think of the first memory where you ever had an ailment, illness or health-related issue. You were likely a child and visited the doctor’s office. Your mother may have spoken for you or encouraged you to speak to the doctor if you were brave enough to be a ‘grown-up’. The doctor, no doubt, helped you recover from whatever it was that brought you to them. This learned correlation of meeting in-person with the specialist and then recovering will likely never leave us. In every patients’ own mapped-out journey of how their injury should improve, the first step is usually always meeting with that first point of contact, the practitioner. The pandemic has put barriers in our way and we can only try our best to adapt and overcome them.
Right now, marketing companies on social media will make you feel inadequate for not having a full diary like you used to. Truthfully, it would take a huge amount of time for any clinic to get anywhere near their usual level with virtual appointments. There is no discredit in this and it is not due to lack of effort or understanding. Adapting to adversity isn’t about being perfect - it’s about adapting to adversity. Personally, I have been certain not to push my virtual services too hard, especially in a time where many are sensitive and have many other things going on. I simply cannot expect every patient who normally uses my services in the regular mechanism to utilise my virtual services as eagerly. Perhaps every patient perceives the value of my sessions differently. I’d much rather see regular numbers resume safely when appropriate and withstand a short period of disruption for the greater good of the public’s health. My virtual services will be available to those who need them.
The positives
I have found that interpreting symptoms and pain behaviours as well as distinguishing pain mechanisms has become easier when there is no hands-on treatment pending. Subjective consultations feel less rushed and patients seem more in-tune with their thoughts and feelings, and truly epitomise the biopsychosocial model of pain. I’ve found myself setting inventive functional outcome measures and demonstrating effective methods of self-treatment. I’d never thought I’d say this especially when the pandemic began, yet running the clinic from home (business worries aside) has been enjoyable. The feedback from patients has been excellent and the clarity of communication has been laser sharp (internet connection issues aside).
Positives also exist for the patient using the virtual services. During a time of increasing uncertainty, it is probable that anxieties have risen: this is likely, at least on a general level, although some patients may have much more severe mental health implications circumstantially. Research would tell us that with such raised stress, the pain experience can be augmented (the exact same applies vice versa). I have had opportunities to put patients’ minds at ease and provide actionable information with every virtual appointment. To recover from injury, avoid chronic pain, or even to avoid worsening of pain are all huge positives for many patients at this uncertain time.
Conclusion
To conclude, virtual appointments are an effective way of offering support to the patients in need. Although they may not be as comprehensive as face-to-face appointments, they can play an essential part in the much wider issue of managing the wellbeing of the public from a neuromusculosketal and mental health perspective.
Thank you for reading!
Murray Collier