MSWA Bulletin Magazine Spring 17_WEB

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WALKING AIDS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WOBBLY BEN MATHEWS, MSWA PHYSIOTHERAPIST Would you buy a suit without trying it on first? Or buy a car without sitting in it or even looking under the bonnet? I hope you answered no. If you answered yes, I have some clothes and a car for sale. It never fails to surprise me how many people buy walking aids (sticks, crutches, walkers) without researching whether they are the correct aid for their level of function, or if they are even the correct size! Furthermore, most people go years without ever checking or servicing their walking aid. I have seen people using walking sticks that have completely worn through the rubber foot (ferrule), and are walking on the slippery metal post beneath. I have seen others using walking frames whose brakes don’t work, and even using aids that are broken! When I was working in an aged-care facility I even met one unfortunate fellow whose family had bought him a paediatric 4 Wheeled Walker and couldn’t work out why he kept falling when he was walking with it. I am regularly adjusting aids, replacing ferrules, handles, tightening brakes etc. It is concerning how few people realise there is a problem with their aid. An improper aid is unsafe, and it goes without saying that this can increase your risk of falling. Some lesser known problems associated with using the wrong aid are: • shoulder, neck, back, and arm pain (such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome) • abnormal gait patterns (that can cause muscle imbalances, and in some cases damage knee and ankle joints). Before purchasing a walking aid, we strongly recommend you have an assessment with one of our physiotherapists. During the assessment, we will test your balance, strength, and your gait pattern, to determine which aid is most suited to you and your lifestyle. Not only that, but we stock replacement ferrules and have several types of sticks and crutches that we sell at wholesale price (we make no profit off these, you pay the same price as we paid for them) and in some cases, we may be able to apply for funding through certain organisations to cover part or all of the cost of a new walking aid. Also, if you happen to find a fancy new walking aid that glows in the dark, has yellow speed stripes and is made from aerospace materials, please let us know about it. We may be able to buy the aid at the wholesale price as a not-for-profit organisation. For more information on how to select an appropriate walking aid or if you have any questions, please contact the MSWA Physiotherapy department 9365 4888. 14 | MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2017
COUNSELLING & COFFEE – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? ROB ORR, MSWA COUNSELLOR It’s commonly accepted wisdom that if you are experiencing some life difficulty and/or emotional distress, talking about it to someone can be helpful. We believe in expressions like ’don’t bottle things up’, ‘get it out in the open’, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and many more – all of which support this idea. When discussing the concept of meeting with a counsellor, you might also hear people say “Having coffee with a friend (or a beer with your mates), is all the therapy you need”. It’s true that talking to a friend can help you sort through your thoughts and put problems in perspective. They might just listen sympathetically, or may suggest solutions. Typically you would expect to feel comfortable and emotionally supported by your friend, who also knows you and your past history. It’s reasonable to raise the question, “Do you need a friend or a counsellor?”, when it seems that talking with a friend produces tangible benefits. First, it’s important to understand that counselling and coffee aren’t mutually exclusive – you don’t need to do one OR the other. It’s perfectly fine and appropriate to do both. Second, there are several reasons why, although you have good friends to talk to, you may want to consider including meeting with a counsellor as well. Some of the differences between meeting with a friend and meeting with a counsellor include the following: • Friendship is based on each person getting a chance to share their thoughts and their problems. When you meet with a counsellor you get a chance to make that time all about you. • A counsellor is objective – they stand outside your life, don’t judge, and don’t have a history with you and other people in your life. This allows them to be non-judgmental, and to suggest solutions which you may not have thought of. • Counsellors are professionals, trained to be effective listeners. A counsellor will notice your patterns of behaviour that are unproductive, and utilise strategies that have been shown to assist in changing those behaviours. • Although you’d expect friends to keep confidences you may tell them, sometimes your friend may end up in an awkward social situation as a result. A counsellor is a professional who always maintains confidentiality according to ethical guidelines, and won’t end up under pressure to divulge confidences. • If you are facing a serious long-term challenge, you may need to talk about the problems over a longer period than a friend is comfortable listening to them. A counsellor will understand this and ‘meet you where you are at’, not where a friend ‘thinks you should be’. • A friend might prefer for you to move on in life, but providing support and a sympathetic ear doesn’t always achieve that. Often when discussing problems with a friend the focus is on other people you may both know, and how they have behaved. • Because of counsellor objectivity and the nature of the counselling relationship, the focus is on you, and what you can do to improve. A counsellor is skilled at helping you move on beyond your current situation. • As wonderful as friends are, sometimes you require an expert to help you to cope with the difficulties that you’re experiencing, as difficulties arise that the best of friends do not have the expertise to help us tackle. Placing an additional ‘counselling’ expectation on a friendship can also cause unnecessary strain on that friendship. These points serve to highlight the differences between talking with a friend and meeting with a professional counsellor. To summarise, a chat with a friend should leave you feeling good, accepted and cared about. A series of meetings with a counsellor should leave you feeling listened to, understood, and should assist you in moving on with your life in a professional way. So, do you need a friend or a counsellor? Thankfully, you don’t need to choose, both have their place, and you can enjoy the benefits that each provides. MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2017 | 15
Page 1 and 2: BULLETIN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF M
Page 3 and 4: Letter from the MSWA President GEOR
Page 5 and 6: Letter from the Editor DR GREG BROT
Page 7 and 8: A message from the General Manager
Page 9 and 10: Read more at: mswa.org.au/researchu
Page 11 and 12: OCREVUS (OCRELIZUMAB) LATEST MEDICA
Page 13: WELCOMING OUR NEW OCCUPATIONAL THER
Page 17 and 18: YOUR SUPERANNUATION INSURANCE BENEF
Page 19 and 20: THAT’S LIFE WITH NARELLE NARELLE
Page 21 and 22: MSWA VOLUNTEER UPDATE DAWN BURKE, M
Page 23 and 24: NEWS FROM THE GREAT SOUTHERN OUTREA

MSWA Bulletin Magazine Spring 17_WEB

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?