Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language

In physical therapy, communication that actively involves the patient is seen as the foundation of patient-centered treatment. Research on communication in physical therapy highlights how patients' opportunity to actively participate is often limited by the therapists' focus on biomedical...

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Main Authors: Birgitte Ahlsen, Anne Birgitta Nilsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.882099/full
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author Birgitte Ahlsen
Birgitte Ahlsen
Anne Birgitta Nilsen
author_facet Birgitte Ahlsen
Birgitte Ahlsen
Anne Birgitta Nilsen
author_sort Birgitte Ahlsen
collection DOAJ
description In physical therapy, communication that actively involves the patient is seen as the foundation of patient-centered treatment. Research on communication in physical therapy highlights how patients' opportunity to actively participate is often limited by the therapists' focus on biomedical facts and clinical tasks. Few studies have explored aspects of communication in clinical practice that may promote patients' active participation. The aim of this study is to shed light on verbal and nonverbal communication used by physical therapists to get in touch with patients and how this physical and linguistic touching may contribute to encouraging patients' participation. The selected case is from a qualitative observational case study of the first encounter between a female physical therapist and a male patient with chronic neck pain. Drawing on theories about communication and the metafunctions of language, the findings highlight how the therapist's use of unfinished sentences, repetitions of the patient's own words, touch, gaze and accepting interruptions from the patient promotes the patient's participation. Demonstrations of the use of linguistic communication theory in this study may contribute to enhancing physical therapists' self-awareness around communication and how to get in touch with patients, which is a fundamental element in patient-centered treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-a299335f14a94c1fb81b265e426315ea2023-01-02T13:48:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2673-68612022-08-01310.3389/fresc.2022.882099882099Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of languageBirgitte Ahlsen0Birgitte Ahlsen1Anne Birgitta Nilsen2Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of International Studies and Interpreting, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, NorwayIn physical therapy, communication that actively involves the patient is seen as the foundation of patient-centered treatment. Research on communication in physical therapy highlights how patients' opportunity to actively participate is often limited by the therapists' focus on biomedical facts and clinical tasks. Few studies have explored aspects of communication in clinical practice that may promote patients' active participation. The aim of this study is to shed light on verbal and nonverbal communication used by physical therapists to get in touch with patients and how this physical and linguistic touching may contribute to encouraging patients' participation. The selected case is from a qualitative observational case study of the first encounter between a female physical therapist and a male patient with chronic neck pain. Drawing on theories about communication and the metafunctions of language, the findings highlight how the therapist's use of unfinished sentences, repetitions of the patient's own words, touch, gaze and accepting interruptions from the patient promotes the patient's participation. Demonstrations of the use of linguistic communication theory in this study may contribute to enhancing physical therapists' self-awareness around communication and how to get in touch with patients, which is a fundamental element in patient-centered treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.882099/fullcommunicationphysical therapyverbalnon-verbalpatient—centered carecase study
spellingShingle Birgitte Ahlsen
Birgitte Ahlsen
Anne Birgitta Nilsen
Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
communication
physical therapy
verbal
non-verbal
patient—centered care
case study
title Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
title_full Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
title_fullStr Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
title_full_unstemmed Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
title_short Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
title_sort getting in touch communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language
topic communication
physical therapy
verbal
non-verbal
patient—centered care
case study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.882099/full
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