Clinical Skills for CFT, Iatrogenic Pain and Teaching Physios

Kjartan's first skill is listening: clinicians often interrupt patients within seconds, and filming yourself makes this obvious. Second, do not fear failure. Third, learn communication skills such as motivational interviewing, along with social science and neuroscience, and tailor explanations to the person's health literacy and interests. He stresses standing by the patient throughout rehabilitation: making sense of pain together and building a stepwise plan that usually includes behavioral change, exercise or valued activities. Reflecting back what was discussed helps catch misunderstandings. Clinicians should also avoid mixed messages, such as asking patients to relax while acting afraid during movement experiments. On whether the pain epidemic is partly iatrogenic, Kjartan sees every previous therapist as a potential yellow flag, himself included, because words carry great weight when patients are vulnerable. The problem is bigger than any profession, and patients' voices need a place at the table. The approach can be used for the shoulder, ankle and other regions, since clinicians treat people, not body parts.