Wednesday 2 July 2014

What is the difference between cancer & whiplash?... Here's what!


That was the question ... posed by David Butler on the noijam BLOG on 29th June 2014

When I first read this post and the reaction on Twitter, I was initially surprised by the fawning sycophantic compliments of self proclaimed skeptics... so I read it again and frankly I was appalled (at many levels).

Then when I suggested via Twitter that the post was 'bombastic nonsense' … I was asked quite logically by a PT student, exactly why I thought so?



Twitter with its 140 characters is hardly the best medium for such discourse, so here is the response in detail.

Well here’s why …

 

 

   

    

1. The analogy 'Cancer-Whiplash' is meaningless and badly chosen . . . 


Whilst sympathising entirely with the authors’ stated proximity to the subject (cancer), this cannot allow us to stray into emotional territory … lets keep it as factual as possible.

www.shannonburns.com

Cancer is acquired insidiously – Whiplash associated disorder (WAD) results from trauma.

Cancer may lead to death – WAD rarely (to avoid that unwanted complication see here)

Cancer is easy to diagnose – WAD diagnosis is in its infancy

Cancer has clear care pathways and the ‘management process can be mapped out with confidence’ – WAD is both difficult to diagnose and little is known about the most effective treatments.

Cancer research is MASSIVELY funded all over the World – WAD has pockets of minor funding.

In oncology, clinicians are more often than not, able to be very clear about the diagnosis management and prognosis - In WAD sadly, this is not so.

Cancer and WAD are NOTHING like each other … the analogy is meaningless.

To suggest so ... frankly verges on disrespect to the genuine sufferers of either malady .... of course, REMEMBER only WAD patients are ever doubted.

2. We don’t need another bullshit acronym!

 

This is the bit when I first started to laugh and double-checked the date …could it actually be April 1st ...? 



Then I began to laugh again, this time with tears rolling down my cheeks (see below).


Yes, at its basic level WAD is (‘just’..!) a sprained/strained neck … providing of course, that is ALL the patient complains of!?!

BUT … SNSNI = ‘Sprained neck at speed with frequent neural irritation’ …Help me please … 
This HAS to be a joke??

Physiotherapy as a profession, has been beset with a plethora of ever changing, confusing acronyms since its inception … ANT changed to AND … Mmmmm!

ULTT1 (UK) is also BPPT (Aus) ... even better! 

In the perceived wisdom of the ‘noijam group’ we should be adopting SNSNI … Oh, wait a minute, can’t we lever in some MORE LETTERS?

'SNASWFNI' is surely a lot catchier ... The (Welsh) medics will really take to that??

Maybe NOIgroup (note the acronym) can hype it a little ...?


Wait a minute … Haven't the pain scientists been spending some time QUITE RIGHTLY suggesting that we should be changing our vernacular (lose the SCARY language people) when describing conditions to patients.

Lets just imagine the patient-therapist discourse for a moment …


Patient … “Hello I have some neck pain following a motor vehicle collision”


Therapist – “Oh you are probably suffering from SNSNI” ... (go on try saying it out LOUD!)


Patient – “Pardon me, … Uh uh, you sound like you have sinusitis?”


Therapist – "Let me explain… You have SNSNI … That means you have a sprained neck" (smiles knowingly)


Patient – "Is that what they used to call ‘whiplash’"


Therapist – (Laughs) … “I suppose so”


Patient – "So what do all those fancy letters mean?" (looks a little worried)


Therapist – "Oh, it’s just short for 'Sprained neck at speed with frequent neural irritation'”


Patient - … (looking around nervously) “… errr, excuse me, I think I need to use the bathroom." (gets up and bolts for the nearest door … )


Is that just THE SCARIEST description you have ever heard??

Shame on you Noijam … You’re promoting the very thing you asked us all to STOP!

… and anyway, why would any skeptic worth their salt, buy into the concept that it is JUST neural tissue involvement in WAD ... That is nonsense by any stretch of the imagination.

Oh of course the caveat of the cleverly used word ‘frequent’ allows a brilliant get out clause.

BUT the suggestion remains. Is this really sound thinking?

'There's no room for bullshit ...'

NOIjam group suggested that there was “no room for bullshit” in WAD … and then IMMEDIATELY introduced a massive wedge of nonsensical Guru generated acronym BS straight into the pot??

3. There IS no sectarian war …!


Or if there is, it is self promulgated, self promoted and self fueled by nonsense and evangelical hype. 


Yes, there IS an on-going ‘guru’ culture in PT, but any perceived 'war' is of the protagonists own making. What we have in PT, is a young profession (this is not medicine), struggling gamely to make sense of the ever changing science and the BRILLIANT work done by folk in many fields ... see here and here and here for some examples in WAD.

In WAD … YES at this point in time, confusion reigns, but that is not a time to scoff, sneer or hype up your own paradigm (you're not the first ... and you won't be the last). 

YES … Recent RCT’s have shown that many current methods of management have be called into question … THAT IS BRILLIANT ... thanks to those researchers.

…but it is NOT A TIME TO DEMAND APOLOGIES … in some kind of perverted game of 'you were wrong ... BUT we were right' ... that truly would be nonsense of the highest order.

Remember students, clinicians and the PATIENTS sit in the middle of this maelstrom …

Let’s all try and help physiotherapy to change together, with a little less of the NONSENSE & HYPE!

It is a time to reflect, a time to change, a balancing act ... and it may be easier to balance on the middle ground ...

Nothing stays the same ... and pendulums swing!


CANCER & WAD ? Yes, it was just an analogy, of course!

But just like the acronym that arrived on our doorstep uninvited ... it was badly chosen.

Go on NOIjam …tell me #SNSNI was actually a product of the hayfever season ...

Sneeze hard enough and the 'war' might be over ... Cheers!





P.S. This post was was submitted to the NOIgroup in response to their BLOG ... Can you see it?

'the comment is awaiting moderation' ...

UPDATE (03.07.14) - Deleted .... they said it was the link!

Just the sycophants (WITH hyperlinks...) remain ...

UPDATE (11.07.14) Ad hominem attack from NOIgroup (Group V's individual) ... Here ... Accused of being a 'troll' for daring to disagree ... and prodding the soft underbelly of a Corporate giant.  

For those not familiar with this sort of thing ... In argumentation, an 'ad hominem attack' is an attack based on some irrelevant fact about the person NOT the argument ... This sort of thing is not uncommon when someones view or strongly held belief system is challenged see here. 

It is perhaps about as low as argumentation gets ... and in its delivery, often reveals a great deal more about the attacker/s than the target.

It makes interesting reading, and illustrates what can happen when any individual challenges a Corporate view of the World ... ugly, unnecessary and perhaps not the best of endorsements for the profession.

What was perhaps most interesting about this vitriolic, attempt at character assassination (apart from the distortion of fact) was the complete lack of insight and humour.

Humour (or lack thereof) can tell us a lot about how people approach critical thinking ... and as one commentator said, "Think about the last time you had your mind blown by a new explanation backed by some elegantly simple research. My automatic reaction is always laughter followed by the words, “Son of a bitch. Why didn’t I see that before?”. 

Never be so humourless, as to think yourself above critique. Or, as the French would say, it is always wise never to "péter plus haut que son cul'.


via www.quoteswave.com


 
UPDATE (12.07.14) Here is the bottom line ...

If, on the internet, someone (anyone) chooses to write a provocative, emotive blog ... They simply HAVE to expect someone to be provoked by their rhetoric... to raise a debate or challenge ... Unless somehow they think themselves fireproof or above such challenge.

The kitchen, as we all know ... is HOT.

... It would be a sad passive World if everyone simply nodded in passive agreement to ANY so called authority or belief system.

This whole thing goes way beyond this little storm in a TweetCup, it is a much bigger debate about how a profession deals with change, moves forward ... and how it (and the players within it) really should WORK TOGETHER ... Long may it continue :-)

ACTUALLY ... and for clarity, I think the above paragraph was my KEY POINT


Author

Alan J Taylor - is an ex-professional cyclist, Physiotherapist and writer. Like Bukowski ... "he writes to stay sane". He is a medico-legal expert witness, in the field of clinical negligence related to manual therapy and stroke or other haemodynamic events.

He has worked as a lecturer in Physiotherapy and Sports Rehabilitation & Exercise Science at the University of Nottingham since 2010.

He worked full-time as a physiotherapy clinician until joining the UoN and maintains a clinical case load via his Consultancy, which regularly takes him to to some of the UK's leading sports clubs. He deals with a variety of pain and performance related cases, many with a haemodynamic bias. 

Tuesday 1 July 2014

The Tour de France is coming to town … Time to get on your bike!

University of Nottingham Physiotherapy Lecturer and ex Tour of Britain rider, Alan Taylor reckons there has never been a better time to get on the cycle path to health and happiness! 

 

 

The Tour de France is coming to town LITERALLY, as it visits Yorkshire for the ‘Grand Depart’ on Saturday 5th July. 

 



Exciting times … and your chance to soak in the unique atmosphere of the Worlds biggest bike race. Cycling and the Tour de France in particular, has a little bit for everyone. Billed as the Worlds toughest sporting challenge, it has more than its fair share of blood, sweat and tears, with drama and controversy never far away. That’s not to mention the beautiful countryside that serves as a backdrop to those well oiled legs.




The Worlds top bike riders take on the hills and valleys of Yorkshire as they make their way from Leeds to Harrogate (Stage 1) and York to Sheffield (Stage 2) before heading south for leg between Cambridge and London (Stage 3). It promises to be fun all the way as road becomes lined with LIFE, the bunting goes up, the flags are waved and the music plays. All along the route ... it's party time!



Don't just be a spectator ...


But it’s not just about being a spectator there’s a host of events for wannabee Chris Froomes’ – For those of you who may have missed it Chris Froome won last years event for Team Sky, following the success of Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012 - Team Sky host a series of rides to keep up the momentum of the Tour visit and encourage cycling for everyone.

From a health perspective, cycling gets people active, it's gentle on the joints and gives a cardio vascular workout.  It’s also a super cheap and quick way to commute in busy cities. As a pastime that can be enjoyed by all age groups, it fits well with Government backed activity schemes like ‘Change4life’. The positive benefits of cycling on happiness and mental health shown by recent research, have far reaching health benefits for everyone.



Remember, Einstein said of his theory of relativity … "I thought of it while riding my bicycle." If you need any convincing at all, that dusting off that old Claude Butler is the right thing to do, then take a look at this ...!

You’ll find no less than 30 good reasons for joining in the fun.






So if you want to look younger, live longer, bolster your brain power and … errr improve your sex life? ... Le Tour is coming!

 

... erm, I'm sure there's a haemodynamics link here somewhere??


Get the wind in your hair ..!


It’s time to get those wheels turning, British Cycling is on the threshold of a change in attitudes in the UK, and we can all get the wind in our hair (laughs...).


As ex-tour rider Chris Boardman so rightly said "This isn’t just about cycling, it’s about creating accessible, pleasant, healthier places." Read about the Tours projected lasting legacy here

Alan Taylor is a Lecturer in Physiotherapy and Sport Rehabilitation & Exercise Science at the University of Nottingham. He rode the Kellogg's Tour of Britain in 1988 and still rides a bike for pleasure and commuting. Sometimes he plays in a band ...

(Follow on Twitter @Tayloralanj)


For a full run down on the PARTY that is the Tour de France ... Go here 

 

Oh ... and if you happen to be near Hebden Bridge... Go here