Doctors, dentists, and manual therapists are all required to make physical contact with their clients. This is a privileged position of trust and confidence. So in an environment of increased options for healthcare this leads us to wonder how we can reduce any risk.

It is important to note the professionalism and level of expertise required for a qualified practitioner in the various therapies. For many students that have spent years required to gain a university degree and satisfied the registration requirements, there will have been many opportunities for professional scrutiny to iron out any unprofessional practices or render them incompetent along the way.  

This time frame in the educational process gives insight into the level required to belong to the specific profession. This is vastly different to a student who may have obtained a qualification via a less stringent process. Many practitioners have gone to additional lengths to further their education. Post graduate certificates, Masters degrees and PHDs all mean something and show an increased level of commitment and specific areas of expertise that may be relevant to you.

Word of mouth is invaluable. Family, friends and work colleagues will recommend someone they may have seen for similar issues. These people don’t lie. They often recommend businesses, and practitioners, who have been part of this community for many years. A clinician who has been working in the area with a solid reputation is probably a very low risk.  

Look for reputable professions and research them. Are they registered and accredited? 

Be aware of unrealistic claims. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a client tell me that they have had something done by a therapist that is anatomically impossible without surgical intervention. Tendons joined back together, putting muscles back in place, relocated joints are common claims. This may be due to the message being lost in translation between medical jargon and lay speak, but the therapist must ensure against this communication breakdown.

Know your rights, all professionals need to gain informed consent. That if we are to treat a client then we need to explain and proceed only when the client has allowed this. 

Consumers need to be aware of practitioners operating outside their scope of practice and capabilities, or performing techniques without the necessary qualifications or experience. There are no excuses for unprofessional behaviour. No reasons why a client should feel unsafe or be violated. 

I am extremely confident that any member of our border community can walk into our business, any of the other physiotherapy businesses and reputable manual therapy providers to receive a high level of care that is respectful of the most basic of human rights and more. Rest easy everyone and choose wisely.