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Horrors on the Box MADAM - Hopefully many physiother- apists watched in horror Channel 4’s medical programme ‘Pulse’, screened on April 13 regarding the problem of low back pain.

I anticipate and would actively encourage further debate and condemnation of this broadcast. This programme did little to inspire confidence in patients who seek help from physio- therapists. In no uncertain terms, it put m r that chiropractic treatment was more beneficial, and suggested very strongly that physiotherapists do not have the manipulative skills possessed by both chiropractors and osteopaths. Both the above groups presented their so-called ‘universal skills’ but nowhere in the programme were physiotherapists asked to put their case. This was an extremely biased broadcast. Two very important messages were put over through this programme: 0 Manipulation, ie high-velocity thrusts, is the best form of treatment for spinal problems. 0 Chiropractic treatment is more cost- effective than any other treatment. Both these points have grave con- sequences for both physiotherapists and patients. Physiotherapists’ manipulative

techniques are every bit as successful as those of chiropractors, although it is very dangerous to suggest all cases need such potentially harmful techniques which may or may not have any long-term benefit. Secondly, the research article in the British Medical Journal (1990) 300,1431 -37, has been used by members of the Manipulative Physiotherapists Association of Australia to demonstrate chiropractic treatment to be less cost-effective than NHS physiotherapy.

If any good came out of this broadcast it was the opinion of Mr Waddell and Dr Jayson that suggested quite rightly that the most beneficial form of treatment for chronic lower back pain was by a well- planned exercise programme.

I trust that the CSP is going to take the appropriate steps to ensure that these broadcasts involve the views of physio- therapists and that the director of public relations has initiated correspondence with Channel 4 to effect some form of recognition of the injustice done to physiotherapists in this country. Gavin Cummings

MCSP GradDipManipTher Welton, Lincolnshire

Stuart Skyte, CSP director of public relations, says he has been assured by the producer that in the next series of the programme there will be physiotherapy input.

Follow Einstein MADAM - Three choers for Jill White- house (‘Forum’, March).

Physiotherapists do tcrnd to p. dentious- ness in the use of words, I Jspect to impress ourselves.

Worse, we so often accompany this with pretentious attitudes bordering on the pious!

Clarity and simplicity with accuracy can enhance fact, not belittle it.

I believe Albert Einstein was noted for his simplicity of thought in matters both scientific and social. If this great man could manage it (and not appear superficial) I’m sure physiotherapists could make the effort!

The results would be stunning in terms of time and paper saved! Marion Rankin MCSP (Happy to live not reside in Yorkshire!)

Pooling Resources MADAM - With the rapid changes occuring in education so far as physio- therapy is concerned, particularly the decentralisation of courses and exam- inations, I feel it would be very beneficial to the profession as a whole to have a central education resource database, which would be circulated to all the schools. There must be packages,

PR with GPs MADAM - S M Thomas (‘Letters’, April) is concerned about fund-holding practices undermining the authority of our profession by dictating how many treatments patients should have, and she says that the ‘CSP must campaign more vigorously against these limitations’.

I would suggest that this hostile attitude in itself could undermine the authority of our profession. It is a great pity that as professionals some physiotherapists lack the confidence to tackle such problems as they arise in a mature and professional way by dealing directly with the practices concerned.

We need to be able to stand up for ourselves, and if we do not like the terms of a proposed contract then we should

Bogeymen Banished MADAM -The letter from Annabel Meay- ers and Patrick Hourigan (Physiotherapy. March) and the correspondence that followed have recently been brought to my attention, and I would appreciate the chance to set the record straight.

Their letter states that chiropractors would wish to limit the scope of physio- therapy practice and implies that for patients with back pain we would want to limit the choice of care to chiropractic. This is news to me. Physiotherapy scope of practice should be the concern of the profession itself which should be free to evolve and determine its own future. Also, it is not our intention to limit the choice of patient care, even if we could.

For the huge majority of physiothera- pists to feel threatened by a minority of chiropractors (about 520 British

firmly and politely ensure that it is altered. There are enormous advantages to all

concerned in the development of the GPlphysiotherapist liaison and as it is in its infancy there will inevitably be some difficulties.

We should not imagine that the GPs are out to undermine us, they are as keen on developing the best service as we are, but many of them are not quite sure how physiotherapists work (as we are all aware) and with gentle guidance I have found them only too delighted to discover that we know what we are doing and can make decisions for ourselves.

This is a great opportunity for some public relations work. Don’t miss it1 A M Ashton MCSP Brentwood

Chiropractic Association members) is in any case unrealistic. Some individual chiropractors may be suffering from delusions of grandeur, but this in no way matches the apparent paranoia that is sweeping through your correspondence columns.

Chiropractors are not the bogeymen you portray! You seem to be behaving like a threatened species, but as I understand it, your profession is moving forward.

I would like to make a plea for a more informed and constructive dialogue between two professions that have much to learn from one another and less to fear than they evidently believe. Ian Hutchinson Vice-president British Chiropractic Association This correspondence is now closed. - Editor

videos, teaching methodology, and evaluation packs, for example, which could be made available for purchase if necessary.

It would be a valuable exercise in saving teacher preparation time and particularly appropriate for various core subjects, as even though schools are in a competitive market, it would be a means of pooling our considerable expertise as a profession. Communication and sharing of knowledge must be beneficial.

I would appreciate feedback and comment. Jenny Mizon BEd GradDipPhys DipTP Senior Lecturer Department of Health and Paramedical

West London Institute of Higher Education Lancaster House, Borough Road Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5DU

Studies

Contact Point: Languages Physiotherapists in Camden and lslington are looking at ways of extending our range of leaflets in order to provide good quality health education material to our non- English speaking population. I would like to make contact with physiotherapists who have produced physiotherapy health education leaflets or tapes in languages other than English. The main languages spoken locally apart from English are Bengali, Chinese, Greek and Turkish, although a recent survey has identified 105 home languages spoken by our residents. Viv Pert MCSP Community Physiotherapy West Wing, First Floor St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way London NW1 OPE (tel 071-383 5564)

Physiotherapy, May 1993, vol79, no 5