Four years in the writing and 20 years in the making, the book-length follow up to The End of Physiotherapy is on the way. And best of all, it will be entirely free to download. The four blinded peer reviewers have described the book as ‘exemplary’, ‘highly original’, 'the single most important book in physiotherapy since physiotherapy’, a '‘must read’ for all physiotherapists’, and 'a groundbreaking, timely, and beautifully executed book’. Physiotherapy Otherwise is a book about the sociology of physiotherapy. It takes readers through a century of writing on the sociology of the professions, and shows how this literature - almost entirely ignored by physiotherapists to date - can … [Read more...] about New book – Physiotherapy Otherwise – is on the way!
Should physios still touch?
Has therapeutic touch ever been more topical in physiotherapy than it is today? COVID, the pressure on throughput in the public health system, and poor evidence of efficacy, have all played their part. But the exodus from so-called 'passive' therapies by musculoskeletal private practitioners in recent years has really shrunk what was once one of the profession's main modalities down to the size of a postage stamp. Remember those? But aren't people also craving skilled, empathic touch more than ever? Aren't we, as practitioners, desperate to use our hands again? Or have we given up all hope of hands-on practice and resigned ourselves to remote Zoom consults and do-it-yourself … [Read more...] about Should physios still touch?
The active future for the passive therapist (draft)
I've been asked by a few people this week if I can share a copy of the comment piece I've just written for JOSPT on the recent Editorial Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy After COVID-19: Time for a New “Normal”. Obviously the print version is covered by copyright, but here is a pre-print working version of the brief paper. Traditionally ‘passive’ physiotherapy modalities like spinal traction, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, massage, tissue mobilisation and manipulation, have all been subject to critique for some years now. Most recently, these approaches have been labeled low-value care, because, it is claimed, they provide little or no benefit to the patient, and their risks … [Read more...] about The active future for the passive therapist (draft)
Doing too much
A recent short paper in the journal Sociology of Health & Illnesshas offered some important insights into overdiagnosis and overtreatment (Armstrong, 2021). For some years now, health service managers have argued that there is ‘too much medicine’ in healthcare, and have used the language of cost containment and ‘Choosing wisely’ to increase professional accountability. But health professionals have themselves been concerned with too much reliance on expert advice, and have criticised other competing professions for encouraging patients’ dependence on the therapist for the cure (Traeger et al., 2017; Baldwin et al., 2015; Copnell, 2018). What’s really interesting about the … [Read more...] about Doing too much
Our 2nd Critical Physiotherapy book is out!
After more than two years hard work by an amazing team of editors and writers, we are thrilled to announce that our 2nd collection of critical physiotherapy writings is now in print. Mobilizing Knowledge: Critical Reflections on Foundations and Practices is a collection of 15 collaboratively written critical essays, by 39 authors, from 15 disciplines, and seven countries. The book challenges some of the most important contemporary assumptions about physiotherapy knowledge, and makes the case for much more critical theory, practice, and education in physiotherapy health and social care. Each chapter is a collaboration between a critical physiotherapist and someone from a different … [Read more...] about Our 2nd Critical Physiotherapy book is out!
Percepción de los estudiantes sobre los procesos de formación en el contexto do pandemia COVID-19
This document has been written and circulated by Karim Martina Alvis Gómez (Director), and the members of the regional committees of El Centro Latinoamericano para el Desarrollo de la Fisioterapia y la Kinesiología (CLADEFK). The text was shared by CPN Exec member, Aydee Luisa Robayo. Here is a translated version of the abstract: The Latin American Center for the Development of Physiotherapy and Kinesiology- CLADEFK, committed to the development of Physiotherapy and Kinesiology, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, has started the preparation of a series of documents that serve as general references for consultation and information on matters of relevance to the profession of … [Read more...] about Percepción de los estudiantes sobre los procesos de formación en el contexto do pandemia COVID-19
The End of Physiotherapy Keynote – Groningen, Oct 2019
A few months ago I delivered a Keynote at the European Network in Physiotherapy Higher Education (ENPHE) Conference in Groningen, Netherlands on the subject of The End of Physiotherapy. Here is a video of the talk. … [Read more...] about The End of Physiotherapy Keynote – Groningen, Oct 2019