Week 5: The end but also the beginning

End of placement, beginning of a physiotherapy career

I am pleased to announce that I have finished my physiotherapy degree. It has certainly been a wild ride over the last 3 years. When I started the degree with my cohort in October 2019, little did we know what would happen five months later! None of us predicted that a global pandemic would interrupt – and very nearly derail – our studies. For the best part of 2020 and  2021, most our learning was carried out remotely. For such a practical course, learning how to do a physical assessment on Zoom wasn’t easy. There were times when I struggled for motivation while sitting in my room at home, and I know I wasn’t the only one who found it hard to stay focused.

How difficult it must have been, then, for the Sport for Confidence participants who derive so much benefit from getting out of the house, meeting other people and taking part in team sports. Covid took away so much of what we took for granted. Yet, we all adapted to the circumstances in our own way and we made the best of what we had. I’m confident in saying that everyone is glad to be back at the leisure centres. It’s not just the physical activities that are easier to do at the leisure centres with all the space and equipment, but it’s the social interaction, the physical contact and the whole sensory experience that cannot be underestimated. There is a place for virtual exercise classes, but the last two years have shown that most people prefer the face-to-face contact when given the choice.

One benefit of the pandemic is that we have all got used to doing meetings and activities online. Gab and I had regular catch-ups with Alana and Liz online, which was second nature since we have all become used to remote learning. This was especially important for Alana, who is doing her entire placement virtually. We’ve also had chats with members of inclusive and disability climbing groups across the UK, which might have been more difficult to arrange pre-Covid.

On our last day, Gab and I designed a booklet explaining hypermobility and plantar fasciitis to one of the regular participants at SfC. I remember doing something similar for one of my second year modules. With one of my classmates, I designed a leaflet and poster about a musculoskeletal condition, aimed at the lay (non-medical) audience. In the hypermobility and plantar fasciitis guides, Gab and I avoided using medical jargon or ‘scary’ language. In essence, we wanted to give a clear message of reassurance, that it is safe to continue exercising in moderation, and that pain does not necessarily equal damage. Gab and I recommended exercises and general advice such as avoiding prolonged static postures and using simple pain relief. I think that our physio skills were beneficial in creating the guides.

Overall thoughts

I enjoyed my placement with Sport for Confidence. As I’ve said in previous entries, this was not a ‘traditional’ physiotherapy placement but I believe that our time at SfC was beneficial for us as students, and our input also helped the OT’s and coaches at SfC. We found that there were several possible roles for physio’s at SfC, and we learnt about different ways in which sports and activities can be adapted for people with disabilities. It’s been a pleasure working with the staff and participants at the leisure centres, and it has challenged me to think about how to make sport more inclusive. A common theme amongst people I know (and some of the participants) was that they were put off by PE at school and believed that sport or physical activity ‘wasn’t for them.’ But sport can be fun! It can be inclusive. It can be adapted for people with a range of different needs. And it should be.

Basketball is always a big hit at Sport for Confidence.
When Cinderella played, she was always running away from the ball!

As a newly-qualified physio, I want to make sure that I am empathetic and personable to the patients I see. When someone walks through the door and says they have back pain or a sore elbow, I could do an assessment, make a diagnosis, give them a sheet of exercises and see them again in a few weeks. Or I could dig a bit deeper and ask them about their background stresses, worries and beliefs about their pain. I could even signpost them to a company such as Sport for Confidence if they want to do exercise with other people but feel anxious or unsure about how to start exercising. We have been taught about the biopsychosocial model of health, but I want to make sure I put it into practice.

Final note

I want to thank all of the OT’s, coaches, participants and carers who talked to us, engaged with us and shared their opinions and experiences over the last five weeks. Everyone made us feel welcome, at a time when we were unsure about what to expect from this placement. I would recommend this placement to any physio student who is open-minded and willing to embrace the uncertainty of a hybrid placement. Thanks also to Liz for her help and guidance throughout the placement, and to Jo for being our contact at the University.