Over the last few weeks, we've been running a series of posts on the biomedical model. This approach, perhaps more than any other, forms the solid foundations for a lot of physiotherapy theory and practice, so it makes sense to try to understand it better. Here are the links to all the respective posts that make up the complete set: What is the biomedical model #1 - introduction and specific aetiology#2 - germ theory#3 - Cartesian dualism#4 - experimentation#5 - reductionism#6 - normalisation#7 - body-as-machine Critique of the biomedical model #1 - mind-body dualism#2 - medical power#3 - what it means to be a person#4 - standard deviation#5 - (ab)normal … [Read more...] about The biomedical model – for better or worse
Critique of the biomedical model #1
The Critical Physiotherapy Network is a diverse group of people, but if you was one thing that probably unites most of its members, it would be the critique of the biomedical model. In one way or another, we are united in our sense of frustrations with the limits of this model and the way it is applied to physiotherapy. But we are not alone, and outside of the walls of the traditional medical library, there is a wealth of critical commentary on the model, much of it emanating from the social sciences. Whether because of the rising cost of medically-led healthcare, the growing skepticism of its effectiveness, the knowing prescription of useless treatments, stories of medical … [Read more...] about Critique of the biomedical model #1
World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress 2015
I had an absolute whirlwind day at the first day of the WCPT Congress in Singapore, starting at 7am with the Mental Health networking session and finally heading back to the hotel at 11.30pm from the @PTpubnight at the Berlin Bar. The best way to catch some of the feeling of being here is through twitter – have a look at the hashtag #WCPT2015 for dips into most of the sessions plus some social snippets as well. The overwhelming feeling here is that it is wonderful to be in such a global environment with delegates being able to learn from each other and constantly challenge local assumptions we make about what it is to ‘be a physiotherapist’. What follows are some personal highlights from … [Read more...] about World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress 2015