Group physio info session - help!

[lazyphysio]

I have been asked to hold a physiotherapy information session by a charity aimed at carers. It is to be a general thing, not focusing on one thing, and to last an hour.

Im at a loss what to talk about!

I was thinking of starting off generally with what physiotherapist do, etc. Then talk about several points including general exercise, back care, injury prevention and management, maybe something about arthritis?!

I dont want to bore them for an hour, so I need some hints and tips of what I can do/talk about to keep them entertained.

Also, was wondering is there anywhere I can get general information leaflet from to hand out eg on exercise/backcare or anything - I work in private practice so dont have access to many resources like these!

Thanks x

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[MrPhysio+]

Hi,
This is a great opportunity to spread the word re physio. Carers are usually dedicated people that work hard however have limited education re anatomy, balance etc (things we take for granted as therapists). First - use the strengths of your personality. If you are a light hearted type use that to feel comfortable - pitch the level low initially with a few humourous comments. If you are the serious type go for authority to play the expert.
Either way, use everyday language and leave out all technical jargon. After the initial statements of who you are and what you do as well as what you wish to discuss; ask the group if they have any questions up front.
At this point you can gauge the level of knowledge they have by the questions received. Sometimes this does not work because they are shy or intimidated - go to plan B.

Start the talk with an anecdote that you feel comfortable with, usually something from your experience as it then feels natural. Ask the group a question related to your story to see if they are following. Once people settle in and have lost their shyness questions can follow.

One topic that may be useful concerns interactions between relatives and elder parents. I do not know whether your carers look after people in a facility or in the peoples homes so the following may need to be modified.

For example:
Adult children are usually worried that a parent is becoming prone to falls as they become frail. They fuss over the parent and tell them not to lift, do housework or gardening and begin to do everything for them in an effort to save them from an accident. "I'll get your cup of tea, you just sit there like a good dear."
The parents can tell the therapist that they are frustrated that they are not allowed to do anything for themselves. Eventually the children get their way and the parent gives up and vegetates.

What happens is that the parent becomes less mentally acute due to deoxygenation of the brain from unfitness, the muscles atrophy, balance skills are unpractised, reflexes deteriorate, cardiovascular competence suffers reducing endurance, joint fluids are not pumped around decreasing flexibility, joint cartilage is not fed increasing osteoarthritic stiffness and pain and bone density decreases. Complaints of symptoms increases resulting in an ever increasing number of medications being prescribed with the usual complications of drug interactions compounding fuzzy thinking, statin induced muscle pain, balance problems and a feeling that they are rapidly deteriorating if they need so much medication.
The inevitable culminates in a stumble where the person cannot lift their foot over a rug crinkle causing a fall that weak muscles and poor reflexes cannot catch, stretching tight joints over vigourously, then a landing onto thin bones causing a fracture.
And what do the children say? We knew this was going to happen! Unfortunately the over protection given by children and carers can be a self fulfilling prophecy that creates disability. The stats are that an elderly person is likely to be dead within 18 months to two years following a hip fracture.
Life & death importance is attached to such a simple concept.
Stats such as this sprinkled throughyour talk give relevance and help to show the importance of your information to the group.

Carers and families should encourage independence which in turn creates wellness and reduces treatment costs.

The above should give you an example of one way to direct your talk. It should generate discussion that will lead in all sorts of directions eg how to implement such a model and ensure that it is sustained.
Carers in facilities are often time constrained and have duties set for them such as cleaning, feeding, bathing. It is easier and quicker to do things for an elderly person than to get them to learn to be independent. The question has to be asked,"Are we there to help or to exacerbate the problem?"

Hope the above helps.
MrPhysio+ [email protected]

[lazyphysio]

Thank you, this is very helpful and gives me a direction I should aim my discussion towards.

The carers this talk will be for, are those who care for family members ie parents/children/husbands/wife affected by illness or disability. While they are devoted to what they do, these carers are not paid for what they do as such - its not their income source. For that reason, I'm not aware of even how much manual handling training etc they receive, so it may be worth going over this too.

I thought it may also be good to Mention that while their priority may be to care for their family member, it is also important to make sure they look after themselves?