V - Virtual
Question - How are your IT skills coming along?
Answer - Mixed results! Back in March my skills were poor! Since then after many ‘online’ tutorials, webinars and lots of reading I have managed to tutor successfully online, alongside ‘virtual’ consultations and student/graduate mentoring. This picture shows my first online exams for students since lockdown recommenced in Wales!
Question - is life more challenging?
Answer - Yes, of course it is! In addition when you are asking a ‘mature therapist!’ like me to learn ‘new tricks’ it certainly has its frustrations, anxieties and stress attached to many aspects of ones personal & working life.
Question - why am I doing this?
Answer - I continue to do it for several reasons:
Massage & soft tissue skills, underpinning knowledge and applications, are still an essential part of any therapists toolbox.
There is always something new to learn or revisit which keeps being a therapist and a tutor exciting.
There are always new students to teach and new clients to help and graduates to mentor..
The sense that people really appreciate the effort behind the teaching or therapy helps keep me motivated!
Virtual tutoring and virtual studying has made us all re-evaluate not only how we work but the value of that work. We have all had plenty of time to reflect on what is important to us. Again as areas of the country and some countries (Wales) experience another full lockdown situation, we should all be looking to use the time positively. Ask yourselves some fundamental questions?
Am I making the best use of my time?
What do I want to achieve in the next 3months, 6months or year?
How can I achieve my goals?
Virtual tutorials, One to One, webinars, online theory and many more internet based opportunities have appeared since March 2020. As we change the way we work, access, inform, action and benefit from not having to travel to gain knowledge.
Question - are we putting it to good use?
Question - Will virtual education be the only route in the future?
Answer - No!
It can provide a different perspective, underpinning knowledge and a platform for asking questions in many areas associated with ‘therapy’ and ‘therapists’. It helps to be able to articulate information to clients ‘virtually’. It also encourages one to ask questions as we can stay anonymous if we wish to! It has provided communities and support mechanisms which didn’t exist prior to Covid-19.
Question - will it replace ‘touch’ ?
Answer - No!
Virtual communication cannot replace how tissues feel, how they can be manipulated and the different effects that can be achieved. Virtual interaction, while brilliant, cannot replace the communication and subtle interaction between tutors and students in ‘hands-on’ therapies. The ‘sense’ that one gets from actually handling structures and the response both verbal & non verbal elicited in the client, speaks volumes. The empathy and understanding when “hands-on” is a part of the client, patient or athlete ‘package’ of care is in my view irreplaceable..
This mature therapist might be learning new tricks but you the younger, eager and enthusiastic therapist of the future must put the basics under your belts. The basics are for many of you following the science and research. If Covid-19 has taught us anything then its that intervention comes before the full understanding of the outcome measures. Practice based evidence before evidence based practice. The world of soft tissue therapies is no different!
Which means “hands-on” interventions are still often in the practice based evidence phase and the evidence based practice will come later. The world is focusing its efforts on ensuring we are alive to benefit from the many varied modalities that support health, fitness & wellbeing. That does not mean we should cease to deliver close contact, Face 2 Face education and treatment. What it does mean is that we need to give greater thought to how we achieve these ‘hands-on’ methods and skills.
Remember when added to understanding the new theories/research and practice experience they become a powerful set of “tools” in your therapy box. I also believe that each skill, method and modality of soft tissue therapy is greater than the sum of the parts!
Remember education does not have to be long, expensive or overly specific. It can be a few minutes with a colleague, tutor or willing practitioner. It can be a small financial gesture of appreciation for the knowledge gained. It can be questions/answers which support your practice not just the skills but general guidance and confidence building. Am I on the right track type of question?
It may be that you want to talk about a specific client, presentation or case study? One to One mentoring can help you build confidence in your decision making and assessment processes.
Virtual help and support is readily available and in these strange days of lockdown, limitation and often indecision, don’t let that stop your route to being the best therapist you can be. Help is only a few clicks away!
The Universal use of massage and soft tissue skills will not change. People want and need touch. People will not ask to see the evidence for what you do they will ‘feel’ what you do and judge for themselves. Massage Mattered in the past and Massage Matters now, and will continue to matter in the future.
If you need any further help, support or guidance then contact us to arrange a One to One or attend a course in advanced soft tissue skills, assessment or agree a bespoke education programme to meet your needs as we return to studies, education & training.