Ger Hartmann book

G-Money

Ireland's best known physio/physical therapist/some other description/torture man has launched his own book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Perform-Sport-Shaped-Life/dp/1871305276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319536684&sr=8-1

RacoonQueen

He's not a physio. Just sayin' like.

TheRoadRunner

RacoonQueen wrote: »

He's not a physio. Just sayin' like.

Very true. I must say recently I have used physical therapists over chartered physios. I have been disillusioned with chartered guys in the past sticking me on machines and not actually treating the problem directly.

In fairness to RQ she lifted me out of it when I went to see her and was very hands on so not all physios follow this approach obviously.

pistol_75

In fairness to him he does not claim to be either.

Product Description
Since 1991 Gerard Hartmann has worked as a physical therapist with many of the world's greatest athletes, including Sonia O'Sullivan, Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe, as well as with a number of Irish rugby, athletic and GAA stars. Before a serious injury halted his career as an athlete, Hartmann was among Ireland s first triathlon champions, winning seven national championships from 1984 to 1991. In Born to Perform, Hartmann takes a look at his experiences in sport, both as a competitor and a physical therapist, and how it has helped and healed his life.
About the Author
Gerard Hartmann operates Hartmann International Sports Injury Clinic at the University of Limerick, and also at the High Altitude Training Centre in Iten Kenya.

RacoonQueen

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Very true. I must say recently I have used physical therapists over chartered physios. I have been disillusioned with chartered guys in the past sticking me on machines and not actually treating the problem directly.

In fairness to RQ she lifted me out of it when I went to see her and was very hands on so not all physios follow this approach obviously.

I'm not a physio either Thankfully, I just about dodged that bullet. Wouldn't go near one if I was injured myself unless it was spinal. Sports therapists and physical therapists are where it's at. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Back on topic, heard about the book a while ago. Say it'd be a good read.

G-Money

RacoonQueen wrote: »

He's not a physio. Just sayin' like.

I knew someone would say something like that :P

RacoonQueen

G-Money wrote: »

I knew someone would say something like that :P

I'm coming from a 'don't insult the poor chap' angle.

RoyMcC

Looking forward to a few pro-physios posts here. I've no experience one way or the other but the way we always instruct people here to 'see a physio' they can't be all bad.

Clearlier

RoyMcC wrote: »

Looking forward to a few pro-physios posts here. I've no experience one way or the other but the way we always instruct people here to 'see a physio' they can't be all bad.

Well they're usually better than a doctor anyway... Actually, as I understand it the distinction between physical therapist and physiotherapist although clear in Ireland is blurred internationally. Notably, physiotherapists in the US are called Physical Therapists (i.e. they have equivalent training). I thought that Hartmann trained in the US but that could be just because I know he was based there initially, I don't actually know where he trained.

Whatever qualifications he has I'll be interested to read the book.

RoyMcC

Clearlier wrote: »

Well they're usually better than a doctor anyway...

So the hierarchy so far

Physical therapist > Physiotherapist > Doctor

RacoonQueen

RoyMcC wrote: »

Looking forward to a few pro-physios posts here. I've no experience one way or the other but the way we always instruct people here to 'see a physio' they can't be all bad.

This is rather off-topic from the thread title but I'll respond anyway, since it has got to do with Ger. I don't actually know where he trained, if he trained in the states he may very well be a 'Physio' and just never got his qualifications crossed over but I know a lot of Physio's don't 'like' him because he's a 'Physical Therapist'. The physio/physical therapist debate gets a lot of airing over in the health sciences forum.

I don't know many runners, cyclists, swimmers or triathletes who would favour a physio over a sports massage/physical therapist. Physios in private practice have a bad reputation because they lack knowledge of sports injuries and sports in general. There is also a consensus that they will put a machine on you tens/interferential/electro therapy and such like and walk out of the room so they can do the same thing with another client instead of using hands on treatment; massage and manual therapy to get results. Some physios will give their clients their full undivided attention - which when you're paying 50 - 55 euro for about 30 minutes, you're entitled to expect. I've been to three different physios in private practice, my mother has been to another. All working in places that are recommended across ART and the health and fitness forums and I wouldn't be back to a physio unless it was something I didn't feel the guy I go to could sort, even still I'd probably go to him first.

If I hurt, I go and get battered around for 45 minutes and usually it works, if not - I'll go back and get my legs or shoulder battered around again and it'll work. If I don't hurt I still go and get my legs battered every 2 to 4 weeks and I 'think' that helps stop me from getting hurt. Again, maybe I'm biased.

In a hospital setting, where you are dealing with stroke patients, RTA, orthopaedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery etc physios are absolutely fantastic. They deal with a massive range of cases and do a brilliant job with a lot of it.

I worked alongside physios in a hospital setting and know that some of them who would have moonlighted in private practice would have given out poor advice; re-footwear, training, rehab and such like. One person was gobsmacked when I explained the different types of footwear to her "I just tell people to get asics shoes''

I remember one physio telling me they think their profession is ''bullsh*t''. Seriously. The way physio's are used in Irish hospitals is very poor. They're very qualified, spend 4 years, or more, in college - it's a complete waste what a lot of them are left to do in hospitals. I used to get patients asking me ''is this ALL you do'' :pac: (I worked as a physio assistant, my qualification is 'sports therapist')

I'm sure there are some great physio's in private practice who are excellent at what they do.

A physio is better than a GP which is why I'd respond to a post that way.

RoyMcC

I think what you're saying RQ is that a physical therapist is more likely to sort you out than a physiotherapist? Certainly here (in a much smaller jurisdiction) you'd generally advise a sportsman/woman to see one of only two or three sports injury specialists because that's just what they do - and they are (or have been) sportspeople themselves. They have a reputation for fixing people.

Don't want to take this too far OT though as I know that Hartmann is exceptional and gifted and deserves his own thread

kennyb3

If you go over to the health science education forum (or most other forums), you ll find plenty of run ins between physio's, physical therapists and sports therapists over these issue. So here prob isnt the place for it. It's a never ending circle really much like in many other careera areas with different bodies.

In saying that I agree with RQ, having been to numerous physio's and got some shoddy treatment (e.g. hooked up to an inferrential machine while they left the room) i'd never go back to one. Paying 55e for 30mins with the SSC is my idea of a bad joke. I completely value physio's what they do and how much training they've done. There are a couple in my cycling club. However I much prefer the hands on approach of a physical therapist - the way they tackle the problematic area. It's not all about machines, biomechanics and orthothics with them - its about getting the injury healed and getting you back running or cycling asap.

I'm considering a career change into the area further down the line and if i go ahead it will be as a physical therapist.

Anyway back to the book - I wonder how much detail is in it and whether it covers stuff like sheflins injury, now that would be a good read.

nerraw1111

Book looks interesting. Never heard of him before.

There's good physios/physical therapists and there's bad physios/therapists.

It's got nothing to do what qualification they have whether they are good or bad. It's like anything other service, shop around and seek recommendations.

Physios in public hospitals are the most under appreciated health workers in Ireland IMO. Work their asses off, work overtime for free etc.

dahat

Slightly off topic but thanks all for pointing out the difference with Physio/Physical therapist etc......
I too was victim off a hooked up to a machine for 20 of 35 mins and thanks for the 45!
Now i know the difference i well be even more aware of who i use next time.thanks all for the info.

http://www.emptp.info/

In now ay connected or the like but is this the kind of treatment i should seek instead of a sports physio orthotic recommending practise.........

Raighne

Many physiotherapists are perfectly hands-on, it depends on their experience. They cannot solve everything (few practitioners can, the combination is often what makes the difference) but those with focus on sport tend to be very good at diagnosing the correct cause, the specific condition and the functional movement chain. My own physio forswears the electric gadgets and uses all sorts of modification therapies (his "Mulligan's vice" has released my ankle many times but as he will say to me "it's not backed up by science so you need to have used it and seen the benefits to employ it").

There are some interesting new practitioners out there, such as the new myoreflex therapist in Greystones, who is also a physiotherapist and a naturopath. My personal opinion would be that all disciplines of sports medicine would benefit from having a wider set of skills to treat the issues from multiple angles (acute treatment, prehabilitation, rehabilitation, etc.). I dare not say "holistic" but as an athlete I often wish I could go to one place for all the answers but alas it is hard to ask one person to carry all that knowledge in a time when specialisation seems to be the key to be successful in a given field. If this means we should encourage more "healing centres" to form, I don't know but certainly there is much scope for developing the treatment of sports injuries.

plodder

The best experience I've had was with chartered physios who have a reputation for (and presumably some training in) sports/physical therapy as well. Your bog standard "normal" physio will say they work with sports injuries, but my experience with them was exactly as above. They hook you up to a machine and go off for a coffee or something. I'd go to sports therapist for routine stuff otherwise.

CorkRunning

Photo of the book in question...

plodder

He's on Marian Finucane's radio program now.