Strange as it might seem, experienced practitioners also seem to indulge themselves to protocols or recipes when it comes to therapy. While a protocol can give some respite to the patient, one needs to look beyond the satisfaction of a temporary relief. Following a protocol the patient does leave happy, but only to return back with similar complains. A therapist should look beyond the symptoms, beyond the complaints and beyond the protocol to deliver with foresight, what might be called lifestyle modification program. Without addressing the cause of pain, no progress can be achieved. Take for example Low back pain-the most common musculoskeletal ailment1 and second most common only to headache2- stems up from multiple causes. Pathology or in this case pathomechanics in case of a mechanical low back ache can range from a strength/length discrepancies in various group of muscles, to alignment abnormality of the vertebrae, to degenerative changes of the facets, to disc pathologies, and nerve impingement, or all together based on the chronicity of the lesion. Or sometimes it can just be caused with smoking3. Therefore a thorough and continuous assessment is of utmost importance in delineating musculoskeletal pathologies. Taking the lifestyle and the physical demand for leading a specific lifestyle in consideration treatment should be planned customized to each patient.
No comments:
Post a Comment