The obvious concerns may be whether the Chinese medical staff can understand
what you are saying. Another fear may be whether the tools and equipment
used are sanitary and handled in a proper manner. Besides these basic
worries, an important one is, are chinese doctor’s as qualified
and well-trained as western doctors? Not always. We’ve found that
although the doctors in China come up with similar diagnosis, they prescribe
different treatments. Are these treatments offered based on the latest
scientific findings and on par with healthcare practices in the west?
Specifically with regards to muscle skeletal injuries, many elderly Chinese
doctors neglect to suggest or are unaware of the benefits of rehab or
physical therapy as a medical treatment.
Physical Therapy is a relatively new field in the Chinese medical system.
It has only begun to be taught as a medical tract in the last 15 years.
During medical school previously, doctors learned their specialty but
not about the specifics of the rehabilitation process and any of the implications
of how physical therapy or rehabilitation could help the patient. These
doctors have been taught that the best way for the body to rehabilitate
and do get back to pre-injury health is rest and immobility. This just
makes the situation worse, especially with post-operative recovery. If
someone has surgery, the common medical treatment plan in western countries
is to start limited movement and physical therapy as soon as is responsibly
possible. These prescribed extended bed stays lead to atrophy (the degeneration
of muscles) which can make the rehabilitation process longer and more
difficult on the body.
The prescription of bed rest and immobility is not only given for post
surgery patients but to many westerners that go to Chinese hospitals suffering
from common and simple injuries. People who have sprained their ankles
or twisted a knee are often put in casts and told to stay off there feet
for months at a time. This not only is medically unnecessary it is a great
inconvenience to ones life. There are many options besides simply to rest
but many Chinese doctors are unwilling to consider them or they may simply
not know about them.
Currently physical therapy is taught throughout the medical system in
China and more and more of the younger generation of doctors understand
its importance in the healing and treatment process. Although the older
generation of doctors seem set in their ways and are usually hesitant
to listen to less experienced physicians and surgeons, who are the only
ones with knowledge of physical therapy. There seems to be a large gap
in scientific information related to rehab within the Chinese system.
In China there is very little continuing education for doctors once
they are done with their initial medical training outside of their specialized
field. Doctors learn new techniques in their field but not about breakthroughs
in rehabilitation. This leads to a lack of new ideas being widely accepted
throughout the medical community. Until this new generation of doctors
and surgeons rise to the upper level positions of hospitals and medical
centers, western style physical therapy and rehabilitation will continue
to be ignored and antiquated techniques will still be used.
There are options for western style physical therapy and rehabilitation
in Shanghai such as SinoUnited Health and a few other western medical
centers. But there is still no way to influence the doctors in these Chinese
hospitals. So good advice is to listen to your Chinese doctor but be hesitant
when it comes to passive treatment plans. The passivity of prescribing
long periods of “bed rest” or inactivity should be viewed
skeptically by patients because there are more proactive and effective
treatments available. I would recommend consulting a western physical
therapist, orthopedist or rehab doctor for a second opinion and possibly
a more proactive rehabilitation plan that can speed up the time table
for getting back to pre-injury health.
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