This year we’re getting personal and our team will be sharing more about their careers, their lives outside of work and of course, their journey with Mead Physio Group.
We begin with none other than Jason Wells! Owner of Mead Physio Group and Senior Physiotherapist, Jason considers himself as just one member that helps make up our amazing team. Take a look below at his full Q&A
I am the business owner of Mead Physio Group however I consider myself just one member of our amazing team. I am really aware in our group of encouraging a safe and inclusive work environment and mutual respect within our organisation. An important role as a team leader is developing a healthy work culture and an inspiring place to work. We have a positive and energetic group of work colleagues that I am very fortunate to be associated with. By continuing to enjoy the support of my colleagues and the challenges of running a small business, I remain energized and motivated to assist and support the patients that come to see us.
I have been incredibly privileged to be involved in assisting thousands of patients over my 30-year career including those within the Olympic, Commonwealth and AFL competitions. However, it is our local community where I feel I can have the most benefit by assisting everyday people in recovering their movement and managing their pain. For me, the rewards are in overcoming the barriers that many of our patients have on the road to recovery, having a collaborative approach to their treatment, and being an integral part of the patients care team.
With COVID and increased flexible working arrangements we are all spending more time at home and on computers. Ergonomic pain is an increasing issue often leading to widespread spinal and nerve pain. Checking your work environment so that your body is supported and that you set a reminder to get up and move regularly. With repetitive movements tissues tighten and postural muscles weaken. A great way to stay on top of these issues is by having a short simple routine of stretches that you can do and having it attached near your desk as a reminder.
Spending time with my family and riding my bike. I have recently ridden the Munda Biddi trail solo from Perth to Albany, over 1100kms carrying food and water with me and staying at the trail huts. Although the ride was a huge physical challenge, the time riding through the forests and towns allowed me to realign myself with nature and inner self. I feel very privileged to have a close family particularly as all our family are interstate. They are a great source of joy and happiness and more than any other pastime, I love time together and conversations.
I love sport, either playing it or watching it. During my childhood days I played both tennis and soccer at a state level. This love of movement and exercise culminated into studying physiotherapy and eventually Sports & Exercise Physiotherapy. Growing up in the country, there was limited access to sports clinicians and good advice and care. I still remember going through tubes of goanna oil after a session of infra-red heat therapy to manage my spine and knee pain. However, our physiotherapy and sports knowledge has evolved since then! I have been doing this job for over 30 years and I still love what I do. There is always more to learn, ways to improve our care, and people that need to be listened to and assisted.
Listen to your patient and develop a deeper understanding of their condition.
With information more readily available to patients including the internet, access to scanning and popular health trends, there is greater choice in treatment options for managing pain. However, this can often be confusing and each patient requires a unique approach to overcoming and managing their condition.
More than any other interventional therapy, education and research-based advice is the cornerstone of a good recovery approach. Resting for long periods with an injury; acceptance of terms like arthritis and advanced age; taking tablets as a long-term strategy, only act to render the patient passive in their control over their health outcome. By empowering the patient with active strategies to improve their physical capacity, they understand that striving for a cure is less important than remaining active and motivated. The best way to understand a patient’s condition is to understand in depth how it affects their life, then to formulate healthy life habits, behaviour adjustments and introduce gentle exercise to reduce the burden of pain and disability.
