Question:
by a doctor prior to you treating them??This is more or less what we were taught (itec).
If a client comes with pain in elbow, we have to tell them to seek medical permission and a diagnosisof e.g tennis elbow,before we can treat them.
Welcome any replies :D
It is always good to err on the side of caution, but asking that clients have a diagnosis for aches and pains could fill the doctors waiting rooms to the rafters. Perhaps if someonecontacts you, who has acute pain, oedema or suspect infection, then I would definatelytell them to get a diagnosis, and not touch them. However, if it is a chronic, nagging, common condition that they have endured for weeks/months/years then I would treat, but ask them to get it checked as soon as possible.
it depends on what you have been trained in. If you have been trained how to relieve pain, then you should be able to perform treatments to help allieviate your clients discomfort.
The vast majority of massage therapists are not trained in assessment techniques, and therefore should refer their client if they come in for anything that the therapist has not covered in their training.
Unfortunately this does not always happen, and I hear stories of serious damage being done to the public.
On the flip side of this, you should NEVER take anyone elses diagnosis as gospel. In our own clinics, we have seen TOO MANY people diagnosed by GP's and hospitals, and told they have a 'pulled muscle' and the like. They come to us, and we assess serious problems, some even requiring emergency surgery. We are very fortunate that our therapists are trained to spot these signs.
As a therapist you should always err on the side of caution, but ALWAYS within your scope of practice.
Hi all
From personal experience I find a high percentage of GP diagnosis' are a generalisation and have been given with very little or no physical assessment, for example shin splints and sciatica are seen in my clinic on a daily basis, yet often presented conditions are very different.
I would agree with previous posting that if you are unsure of your clients condition and the effects that you treatment may have, then you should refer to medical specialist.
Gaz
Thank you all for your advice, its been very helpful. I think i would feel safer if they had been seen by a doc first.
Thanks again :)
If a client comes with pain in elbow, we have to tell them to seek medical permission and a diagnosisof e.g tennis elbow,before we can treat them.
Welcome any replies :D
Answers:
It is always good to err on the side of caution, but asking that clients have a diagnosis for aches and pains could fill the doctors waiting rooms to the rafters. Perhaps if someonecontacts you, who has acute pain, oedema or suspect infection, then I would definatelytell them to get a diagnosis, and not touch them. However, if it is a chronic, nagging, common condition that they have endured for weeks/months/years then I would treat, but ask them to get it checked as soon as possible.
Answers:
it depends on what you have been trained in. If you have been trained how to relieve pain, then you should be able to perform treatments to help allieviate your clients discomfort.
The vast majority of massage therapists are not trained in assessment techniques, and therefore should refer their client if they come in for anything that the therapist has not covered in their training.
Unfortunately this does not always happen, and I hear stories of serious damage being done to the public.
On the flip side of this, you should NEVER take anyone elses diagnosis as gospel. In our own clinics, we have seen TOO MANY people diagnosed by GP's and hospitals, and told they have a 'pulled muscle' and the like. They come to us, and we assess serious problems, some even requiring emergency surgery. We are very fortunate that our therapists are trained to spot these signs.
As a therapist you should always err on the side of caution, but ALWAYS within your scope of practice.
Answers:
Hi all
From personal experience I find a high percentage of GP diagnosis' are a generalisation and have been given with very little or no physical assessment, for example shin splints and sciatica are seen in my clinic on a daily basis, yet often presented conditions are very different.
I would agree with previous posting that if you are unsure of your clients condition and the effects that you treatment may have, then you should refer to medical specialist.
Gaz
Answers:
Thank you all for your advice, its been very helpful. I think i would feel safer if they had been seen by a doc first.
Thanks again :)
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