Communication in Physical Therapy

Communication is an innate function that human beings perform beginning at the time they are born. Communication is performed when we cry as infants, make eye contact with the opposite sex across a crowded night club and even when we squeeze the hand of a loved one before we are enveloped in death. Verbal and non-verbal cues are extremely important aspects of communication. At times, non-verbal cues are more important than verbal cues when it comes to conveying a message. Sometimes, with communication, it is not what you say, but how you say it. Even active listening is a form of communication.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses in communicating, which may be dependent on their personality type. Taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), I found that I am an EFSJ (extrovert, sensing, feeling, judging) personality. My personality type indicates the weakness and strong aspects of how I communicate.

Currently, I feel that I have above-average communication skills using both verbal and non-verbal cues. Being an extrovert, my interactions with other individuals comes freely and naturally. I use open body language and posture, leaning forward making the person I am speaking to feel I am giving them my full attention.

A person's eyes are very expressive, and an important tool in communicating with others. No matter where you are in the world, you can look into another person's eyes and instantly know if that person is trustworthy or dishonest, understanding or impatient, mean or sincere. Eye-contact is very important, although it may be a detriment if I am working with a culture which does not approve of eye-contact, as it is something I make sure I do. Nodding is another non-verbal confirmation of listening, which should be done appropriately not excessively like you are "nodding someone to death."

I obtain verbal confirmation of correct interpretation of a given situation by paraphrasing or repeating in my own words what I understand to be the situation. This aids in the knowledge of the individual, and displays that I understand them. I also excel at reading emotions and verbally expressing what I feel they are going through. I believe this gift is from the sensing and feeling aspect of my personality, taking a patient's non-verbal cues and interpreting, having strong compassion for the person. As a physical therapist being able to exude empathy, communicate that I am listening and understand are very important in the patient-physical therapist relationship. There are, however, many areas which may be a detriment to this relationship.

Even though I believe I am a strong communicator, I know that I have many weaknesses. As an extrovert, I love to talk and sometimes I talk too much. If someone is telling me a story, I have a tendency to try to help fill in the gaps. I will occasionally finish thought processes, or sentences because I am getting into a conversation, which definitely goes against active listening. This also may make someone feel rushed.

My "I" statements need some work. I try not to blame or point the finger, which could get someone on the defensive, for instance, "You aren't doing your HEP." It is hard when I care so much and put the time in to help someone, and have the feeling that I am the only one that cares. I question why the patient is even showing up and can get angry that a patient doesn't care, when maybe there is a situation I need to delve further into. As a personality that has feeling so strongly woven into it, in a physical therapy clinic this may soak up time that I may not have if I have several patients at once. I would have to neglect one to aid the other.

I make decisions based on information and it may affect my treatment. For instance if a workman's compensation patient is indicating a on a pain scale of 10 he is an 11 and he is walking around and able to complete his therapeutic exercise, I may not give that patient the time and I may not stay focused on their plan and progression because I perceive their statement as a lie.

Everyone has a downfall when it comes to communication. Conflicts would not arise if there was not some misinterpretation or lack of communication present. It is important to strive to be the best communicator we can be. I know that I need to work on being able to separate myself from a problem and put the sensing aspect of my character back in check. I also know that it is important to let people finish and not interrupt. My ability to get people to open up, by making them comfortable and skills of non-verbal communication, will aid in making me more approachable as a physical therapist. To be better communicators, it is important to gain experience and practice communication skills. Know your patient or the individual you are trying to communicate with. Watch other people in their verbal and non-verbal communications. Most importantly, remember that active listening is just as important as conversing.