World Physiotherapy Day
8 Sep 2021
After enduring a complete disc replacement and disc fusion, Kristian was advised not to do physiotherapy for three months following surgery. However after doing his own research and talking to friends, Kristian convinced his surgeon to send him to St John of God Health Care’s outpatient rehabilitation program.
Although initially Kristian wanted to access St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital because of the sole focus it has on rehab and the access it provides to hydrotherapy, he ultimately chose St John of God Berwick Hospital due to the proximity of the hospital to his home and his inability to drive for six weeks post-surgery.
It’s a choice he doesn’t regret.
"I had a team around me of physios, exercise physiologists and occupational therapists who all worked to help me understand what my body limitations were and how to adjust my personal expectations to meet my rehab goals," Kristian says.
Through a robust exercise program, Kristian was able to regularly move the goal posts during his rehabilitation journey.
“My walking went from making it to the nearest roundabout (500m) to exceeding that goal and making it to the second which was about 1.2 kms in total. From there I was able to walk around a short block of about 1.4 kms with inclines and declines, to more recently tackling a larger block of 3.4 kms. While I often found the rehabilitation program tiring, I was amazed to see what I could actually do with my body.”
Throughout the 11 session outpatient program Kristian noticed steady improvement to his physical health and capabilities. “One of the exercise tests that we did was to stand up and sit down as quickly as you can within 30 seconds. The first time I did that test I managed 14, by the time I finished the program, I was able to do 24.”
Kristian reflects that his rehabilitation experience has been eye-opening in more ways than one, but believes that without physiotherapy as an option for his recovery, he wouldn’t have achieved such positive results.
“Physiotherapy is important for everyday life. I never really realised the impact that a good physical life could have on me until I couldn’t be physically active anymore. Mentally I am in a much better place because I now know what I can do with my body. I can track progress and monitor how I'm improving over time. When my spine issues started to make life harder for me, I genuinely had no understanding of what physiotherapists could do or what they could actually offer to help me.”
It’s likely Kristian isn’t alone with his initial lack of understanding and that is why World Physiotherapy Day is a great opportunity to get the message out, while showcasing the amazing skills of our own physiotherapists.
“I did not understand that muscle manipulation through massage can help with muscular issues, nor did I understand the exercise techniques that physiotherapists use to aid recovery,” admits Kristian adding that, “I suspect many people also have that lack of knowledge—I certainly know my surgeons didn't appear to understand the benefits of physiotherapy in my particular case. Learning this has truly been revolutionary for me, not just because I can now see what I can do, but I can understand my body better now. If that isn't important, then I don't know what is.”
It wasn’t just his physical health that was being positively impacted throughout the rehab process, Kristian noticed a marked improvement to his mental health and wellbeing also.
"St John of God Berwick Hospital has got a superbly collegial team who support each other and all of their clients. It didn't happen often, but if I wasn't in a great mood before, the team definitely contributed to me walking out the door with a better mindset,” credits Kristian. “I was genuinely sad when I had to say goodbye because I knew I wouldn't be seeing these amazing people again … knock on wood.”
Through the success of his participation in St John of God Berwick Hospital's outpatient rehabilitation program, and through the support of his allied health team, Kristian is looking forward to returning to some of the activities he used to love. While singing doesn’t appear to be an activity that relies too heavily on being physically active, Kristian notes that due to his mobility issues he has been unable to continue to sing with the Channel Nine Carols by Candlelight Choir for the past few years.
“It’s my biggest hope that I will be lucky enough to be invited back to the chorus for this year’s carols,” he says. “Physiotherapy has given me back my ability to move and that has made my dream of singing with the choir a possibility again. For that, I am truly grateful.”
If you’d like to know more about rehabilitation at St John of God Berwick and Frankston hospitals, please visit our website, linked below, or contact each hospital directly:
St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital:
T: 9788 3333
E: [email protected]
W: sjog.org.au/frankston
St John of God Berwick Hospital:
T: 8784 5000
E: [email protected]
W: sjog.org.au/berwick