Physiotherapy

Shane_C

Dunno if this is off topic or not but I couldn't find a better forum. Feel free to move me .

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with an "old school" un-qualified physio?

I have started going to a guy who I have since discovered is a bit lacking in the formal education side of the business. The confusing part is that I know a few people who swear by him, and, he seems to know more about what he is talking about than any other physio I have dealt with.
I'm wondering, is this all going to end in tears? Has anyone ever experienced this kind of thing before?

RacoonQueen

What sort of qualifications does he have?

Racing Flat

Shane_C wrote: »

Dunno if this is off topic or not but I couldn't find a better forum. Feel free to move me .

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with an "old school" un-qualified physio?

I have started going to a guy who I have since discovered is a bit lacking in the formal education side of the business. The confusing part is that I know a few people who swear by him, and, he seems to know more about what he is talking about than any other physio I have dealt with.
I'm wondering, is this all going to end in tears? Has anyone ever experienced this kind of thing before?

Regardless of how good or bad the person is, how seemingly knowledeable or not, if he is not formally qualified, then he is unlikely to be registeres or regulated if you know what I mean. ie a qualified doctor will be covered by the Irish Medical Organisation or Medical Council, a qualified, Chartered physiotherapist will be a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and so on. As such they will be insured. So that if something goes wrong, you will be recompensed. And they will be obliged to work according to certain guidelines, ie keeping up to date etc., not doing dangerous things and so on.

While somebody unqualified may be brilliant at what they do, it's when something goes wrong that you are up the creek, as there may be no insurance and no comeback (as there may be no duty of care - if he's not qualified he's no different to a fellow off the sreet in that respect I think).

I could tell you some horror stories, the one about the fellow who went to someone with a bad back and was given some kind of peanut test and died as he was allergic (a qualified person would probably a) not do a peanut test for a bad back and b) would probably check whether you were allergic first anyway). Or the one about a fellow who was having his calf massaged for 6 months for a supposed achilles problem when in fact he had a diabetic neuropathy. Or the many about people with undiagnosed cancer causing pain and been massaged or whatever for months rather than being referred for investigations which would diagnose the cancer...

Shane_C

RacoonQueen wrote: »

What sort of qualifications does he have?

I'm not sure, I never checked. He came VERY highly recommended from a friend who had had 10 years of back problems and thereapy before this physio cured him.
I think I can claim some of the sessions on VHI so he should have something to his name.

Racing Flat wrote: »

Regardless of how good or bad the person is, how seemingly knowledeable or not, if he is not formally qualified, then he is unlikely to be registeres or regulated if you know what I mean. ie a qualified doctor will be covered by the Irish Medical Organisation or Medical Council, a qualified, Chartered physiotherapist will be a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and so on. As such they will be insured. So that if something goes wrong, you will be recompensed. And they will be obliged to work according to certain guidelines, ie keeping up to date etc., not doing dangerous things and so on.

While somebody unqualified may be brilliant at what they do, it's when something goes wrong that you are up the creek, as there may be no insurance and no comeback (as there may be no duty of care - if he's not qualified he's no different to a fellow off the sreet in that respect I think).

I could tell you some horror stories, the one about the fellow who went to someone with a bad back and was given some kind of peanut test and died as he was allergic (a qualified person would probably a) not do a peanut test for a bad back and b) would probably check whether you were allergic first anyway). Or the one about a fellow who was having his calf massaged for 6 months for a supposed achilles problem when in fact he had a diabetic neuropathy. Or the many about people with undiagnosed cancer causing pain and been massaged or whatever for months rather than being referred for investigations which would diagnose the cancer...

Cheers, for that. I suppose in my situation I am not too worried about accountability. It is not a problem that impacts my daily life and its not something that anyone can make worse.
Also I have been to many "accountable" physios who basically did nothing: I'm willing to take a gamble if he's good.

Racing Flat

Shane_C wrote: »

I am not too worried about accountability.

I'm willing to take a gamble

No need for the OP then :pac:;)

Shane_C wrote: »

I'm willing to take a gamble

Best of luck with that.