Stay in your lane

A statement I find difficult to analyze.

This is a way of telling people to not overstep. In a professional world, this is restricting what you offer because you don't have the right qualifications.

What are the right qualifications? I'm a physiotherapist, I have a degree in physiotherapy and I've done countless courses since graduating. Does that mean I'm an expert in those areas? No, it means I have some knowledge, but I also could have gained that knowledge through working with peers, through reading, through simply expanding what I do with clients.

I do think there are limitations to my role. I am asked regularly for advice around medication which I'm not qualified to comment on, so I normally refer to a pharmacologist or family doctor. The worst thing I could possibly do is give somebody the wrong advice that results in an adverse reaction. I do understand medication. I understand how it works, hence why I ask about it when someone comes in to see me.

There are limitations to what I am capable of doing as a physiotherapist and I'm more than happy to tell somebody, when I no longer feel I can help them achieve what they need.

I see every day on social media, people using their qualifications to justify giving out advice or worse still, I see people giving unsolicited terrifying information.

I saw on a Facebook group, not so long ago, someone implying that a person had a hormonal issue due to sleep dysfunction without assessing, asking further questions or really getting to understand the person's issue. I used to be a happy commenter on Facebook and Instagram posts, but now, I sit on the fence. How much do I really know about this person? Are they comfortable answering more questions? Because without really knowing what's going on, It's very simple to jump on a bandwagon of what we think is correct.

That may not be the issue. That's why it's important for people to reach out to somebody with knowledge. Someone who will sit with them, question what's going on, why it's going on, and help them find realistic solutions that work in the real world.

So when someone tells me to stay in my lane, I happily agree. I know my limits and I will work with them.

NIcola Robertson

Registered Physiotherapist