Therapy
Sally and her siblings are keen exponents of therapies. They each have their own retained therapist to keep backs, shoulders, knees, ankles and other bits suitably bendy. Comparing notes occupies much of the WhatsApp bandwidth between the U.K., Austria and Australia. Overheard conversations mean that I’m well educated on red physio rubber bands and 2.5 kg dumbbells but, until recently, I’ve turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to their antics.
Since my early lockdown cycling accident I’ve had a therapist of my own. Not the private, personal type but more NHS and Occupational rather than Physiotherapy. None of the soothing sports massage but more of the twist-it-‘til-it-hurts brigade. Night splints and reverse knuckle benders are the weapons in her armoury.
Then, one day, the lovely Suzanne was recalled to Telford leaving me with Tracy and her referral to a physiotherapist to get my shoulder fixed as it’s been complaining about the extra work caused by my road shattered wrist. A common sequel to wrist injury I understand.
Being in COVID times, physio is done virtually these days with a mobile phone and a mirror. The problem is that we live in an 18th century cottage and the only mirror we’ve got is in a low ceilinged bathroom and bangs above the hand basin.
It was in the loo that I dialled into Lynn for my first ever virtual Physiotherapy session. The mobile was in the sink and on speakerphone - making Lynn complain about the echo and the plumbing noises - but all went well with the scarf test and the abduction and rotation movement measurements. Then came the painful arc and impingement test that meant trying to put my arm above my head. Yes, that hurt as my still sore wrist crashed into the ceiling. I was discovering the limitations of online physio in a house with low ceilings!
But the diagnosis was promptly and accurately made and soon a course of exercises, illustrated by links to videos, pinged into my inbox. My next appointment will be on the 29th September and I’m sure there will be plenty of trans-continental chatter in the meantime!