Week 4: Climbing guide, presentation and overall thoughts

Welcome to Part 2 of my weekly Sport for Confidence blog. If you haven't read Part 1 yet, click here to read it.

Climbing guide and presentation

Throughout the week, I have been working on the climbing guide with Gab and Alana. I feel that we have worked well together. We had a meeting early in the week and came up with a plan and a list of tasks for each of us. I have been researching and thinking about the physical demands of climbing, the physical benefits of climbing, and exercises that will help a person to start climbing and make progress as a climber. Of course, there’s a difference between indoor climbing (bouldering) and outdoor climbing as well as free climbing versus harnessed climbing, so there isn't a 'one size fits all' approach. There are some general strengthening exercises that will benefit all climbers though. 

We also recorded a group presentation which we shared with Liz and our tutors. In the presentation, we shared our experiences on this placement so far, as well as our opinions on the possible role for a physio in SfC. You can watch the presentation here.

I think it has become clear that there is an emerging role for physios in SfC. They could work alongside OT's and coaches to assess new participants, screen for red flags and set collaborative goals. Physios can do risk assessments and give advice for managing injuries or pain. Working with individuals in the gym and devising an exercise programme would help to take some of the load off the OT's and coaches. Also, a physio in SfC could work with the local outpatient physio team to make sure the exercises are relevant to what the participant wants to do. 

"Ok, very funny! Who's hidden all the dumbbells?"
Source: Pixabay

These are my personal reflections for future practice as a MSK physio: 

1) Always think about different types of communication, including body language, tone of voice and expressions. Is the person truly understanding what I’m telling them? If not, can I say the same thing in a different way? Communication goes both ways. Am I truly understanding what my patient is telling me?

2) Be adaptable to changing circumstances. Think on the spot and don't be afraid to change plans if needed. For example, what if there isn't enough equipment? What if there are more participants than we were expecting? What if one or more of the participants cannot yet do the exercises that we’d planned? 

3) Make sure the goals and treatment plan are relevant to the person. If someone hasn’t done the exercises I’ve given them, think about why that might be. I shouldn't assume that they're being lazy.

4) Teamwork. Know my own scope of practice and don't be afraid to refer a patient on or ask another member of the team for advice. When doing a group project, make sure everyone in the team knows our common objectives, and then devise a plan before attempting to ‘just crack on with it.’

Looking forward

There has been a lot to think about in this blog entry. Certain aspects of this placement have been challenging, such as managing my own workload, dividing tasks with other students, and investigating how physios could fit into the SfC model. But I have learnt a great deal about people’s individual experiences with inclusive sports, and how physical activities have benefitted them mentally and socially as well as physically. It’s hard to measure and quantify how much confidence sport and exercise gives people in their lives, but the case studies show that physical activity in a group can be the gateway towards meeting other like-minded people and finding a new purpose in life.

When I start working as a physio, I want to make sure I am mindful that I am talking to a person with real thoughts, feelings, experiences and ambitions. I don’t want to be someone who just asks yes/no questions, comes up with a diagnosis and treatment plan, gives my patient a list of exercises and sends them on their merry way. The physiotherapy profession is always evolving and changing, and I hope that I will continue to change with the times and grow as a person. This SfC placement has given me so many experiences that I will remember for life - and it's not over yet! I've got three more days left, and I will make the most of those three days.