Successful patient-centered practice requires inter-professional collaborations in order to maximize care outcomes. This was emphasized recently by massage therapist Paul Lewis, B.A., R.M.T., C.D.T., at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) in Bournemouth, England, where he recently served as an invited guest lecturer. Lewis is recipient of the 2015 Training Provider Highly Commended award from the UK and Ireland’s Federation of Holistic Therapists.
In two workshops given this fall at the AECC, Lewis introduced chiropractic students to techniques of advanced massage therapy, including his unique approach to treatment of soft tissue issues (dynamic angular petrissage). His workshops focused on improving patient outcomes by augmenting chiropractic treatment with methods of therapeutic massage.
Lewis stressed the importance of systematically address soft tissue problems via thorough assessment, application of good clinical reasoning, and having a clear rationale for each technique applied.
He demonstrated the value of addressing all anatomic structures involved in any given soft tissue problem, the importance of using a variety of treatment positions, and showed how therapeutic massage can be an important integrative tool when implemented prior to chiropractic treatment.
The AECC’s commitment to education, clinical training and research is consistent with Lewis’ passion to advance inter-professional collaboration between massage therapists and other health-care professionals.
Maria Browning, D.C., Deputy Director of Clinic at AECC, attended the workshops. She summed up her experience in the workshops saying, “the students appreciated having a non-chiropractor show them some useful techniques.” She continued to note that “particularly good were patient positioning, order of treatments and dynamic angular petrissage.”
After receiving feedback from the students, Browning acknowledged the students thought, “it was nice to learn from someone who showed them different options and let them think for themselves to problem solve rather than dictating to them.”
Browning went on to assert, “educating, and introducing our students to other health care providers and their roles in a patient centered care environment is the key to making educated choices and to empowering the students so they are able to make insightful decisions as to the efficacy of collaborating with other health professionals for the betterment of the patient.”
About AECC
The AECC opened in 1965 as the first chiropractic college in the UK and Europe and has since become a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare. Recognized and supported by the British Chiropractic Association and the international chiropractic community since its inception, the school offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and accredited clinical programmes. This includes the BSc (Hons) Clinical Exercise Science course delivered in partnership with Bournemouth University.
About Paul Lewis
Paul Lewis works in conjunction with Doctors of Chiropractic, Medical Doctors and in multi-disciplinary settings providing collaborative treatment within his scope of practice. He sees patients with pain, discomfort and restricted range of motion, as well as with other soft tissue related issues. A Registered Massage Therapist, Combined Decongestive Therapist, Aqua and group fitness instructor, Lewis is also an approved provider, presenting workshops based upon his clinical experience and knowledge. Lewis has taught advanced treatment techniques, using a method called dynamic angular petrissage. Further information about Paul Lewis, visit paullewis.ca.