I don’t really get frustrated that much as a physio anymore.

I don’t really get frustrated that much as a physio anymore.

I think I’ve been humbled by having kids, owning a small business and just the general trials and tribulations of getting older

I do remember pretty fondly though, as a young physio, getting genuinely exasperated by some of the things patients would say to me.
I’ve always been quite an impatient person in general, and working in physio has definitely taught me to slow down and understand that things take time. People take time. Injuries take time.

BUT I thought a fun list was due, because there are still some things patients say that make a physio die just a little bit inside.
If you’ve ever said one of these to me, don’t worry. These days it’s water off a duck’s back. But 15 years ago? Yep, You might have made my stomach turn.

And remember, this is purely for entertainment purposes. I say dumb things that make other people die inside ALL THE TIME.
(If you want examples just ask my wife, Danielle)

I told my heavily pregnant wife the other day that at least when she has our third baby she’ll “get a bit of a break” in hospital because no one will be constantly asking her for things. Whoops. Anyway…

THINGS THAT MAKE A PHYSIO DIE A LITTLE INSIDE

1. “I think I need to go to a chiropractor to have it cracked back into place.”
Nothing is out of place.

2. “My doctor said I don’t need physio.”
Okay cool, I’ll just pack my little physio bag up and go home then.

3. “I thought I’d wait and see if it went away on its own.”
Fair enough. How long has it been?
“About four and a half years.”

4. “I watched this guy on TikTok and he said…”
The worst part? Sometimes old mate is actually right.
Which somehow makes me die inside even more.

5. “It only hurts when I do this…”
Proceeds to do it another six times.
Yep. Still hurts.

6. “Do you reckon it’s because I’m getting old?”
Patient: 25 years old.

7. “I’ve cut back my running and it still feels the same.”
How much have you cut back?
“I’m only doing about 68km a week now.”
Previously: 70km.

8. “No previous injuries.”
Ten minutes later: “Well, I did have three ACL reconstructions.”
THOSE COUNT.

9. “The scan said I’ve got degeneration.”
Patient: 82 years old.

10. “Should I stop going to the gym?”
No.
“Oh. Okay. Because I already cancelled my membership.”
Why did you ask me then?

11. “Can you just give me one exercise?”
Absolutely. Here’s one exercise.
Next appointment: “Is that all I should be doing?”

12. “Actually, my knee isn’t the main reason I’m here…”
Time elapsed in 60-minute initial appointment: 39 minutes.
This is the physio equivalent of a plot twist.

And perhaps my favourite of all…

13. “Oh, I probably should have mentioned…”
Nothing good has ever followed this sentence. Ever.

In all seriousness, one of the biggest things physio has taught me over the years is patience.
People aren’t deliberately trying to make our jobs difficult. Life gets in the way. Rehab gets forgotten. People get conflicting advice from doctors, physios, friends, family and, yes, random blokes on TikTok. And sometimes people just need a bit of time.

Fifteen-years-ago Tom probably didn’t understand that quite as well as I do now.

Three kids and a small business will do that to you.