Why Physiotherapy Should Be Like Your Favorite Restaurant Menu

Don't you just love going out for a meal? I know I do.

I love sitting down, looking at the menu, and seeing a good range of choices. Not too many, but at least five for each area. What a menu allows us to do is choose what we like and what we want on that day. We might return to the restaurant another day and try something different.

That's the way I approach physiotherapy. My job is to provide you with a menu of options and give you a good description of each one. It's a pet peeve of mine when a menu has something that sounds fancy, but it turns out to be just fish and chips, or worse, it's loaded with celery—my absolute least favorite taste. If that's not in the description, and it shows up in my food, I'm going to be disappointed.

When we're looking at giving people exercises or treatment options, I line it up like a menu. Here are six exercises: why don't you choose a couple to do every day? Or, here are three things you can try to improve your bowel function. Why don't you try one of them that feels best for you? Rather than doing all the things, you might choose to do one thing or vary your choices until you find the formula that works for you. It's like going to your favorite restaurant, knowing exactly what you're going to order because that's what they are good at.

So instead of looking at physiotherapy as a strict diet plan, think of it as a menu. Make sure you're given lots of options, and choose the things that work best for you. This approach emphasizes the importance of providing individuals with a variety of treatment options, allowing them to pick what suits them best.

Just like a menu with clear descriptions and no hidden ingredients, a personalized treatment plan should be tailored to each individual's needs and preferences.

This method offers flexibility and the ability to try new things, making the journey to better health both effective and enjoyable.

Nicola Robertson

Physiotherapist