Dooley Noted: 7/2/2014
One of my most impressive patients is one I’m not permitted to touch.
Because of religious reasons, he could not shake my hand upon meeting me. He informed me we were not allowed to touch.
At first, I thought to myself: “How can I provide manual therapy without touching my patient?”
I admit, I didn’t see that coming. But I wasn’t about to turn him away. He was referred specifically to me, and I had a job to do.
It might not even be religious reasons for some people. Certain folks don’t enjoy being touched.
It turns out when you can’t touch, you work harder with patient education. And your treatments get very creative.
You start to look deeper at the history, to see if nutrition is a factor in patient presentation.
You start to ask more questions about sleep, appetite, urinary/bowel habits, digestion, temperature regulation, energy, and moods.
You start to get creative with correctives, teaching the patient how to palpate as if the hands were your own.
You get better at cueing, and you get more focused on asking the patients what they are feeling.
By not touching the above patient, I became a more proficient practitioner.
He is amazed at his results, and he sends me short clips several times weekly for analysis of his exercises. He is one of my most diligent, consistent and self-aware patients, and he has received astounding results.
You might not be able to touch – but you have a load of other senses and techniques, waiting for you to utilize them.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley