Getting to Know Emily Fox

Our new all-star physiotherapist Emily joined the team in November last year and we thought it was about time we sat down and got to know her a little better! Emily is an amazing all round physiotherapist and Pilates teacher, as well as being a specialist in cervical spine conditions, headaches, and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. She is about to commence her Masters in pain management, as well as being a lover of Jiu Jitsu and dancing in her spare time. We asked her a few questions, and this is what she had to say!

 What made you decide to become a physiotherapist?
I wanted to do medicine actually, but after coming out of an interview I realised that I didn’t want to follow that path anymore – the thought of only spending 5 minutes with a patient and not being able to assist them to my fullest lead me to rethinking what I wanted to do. I still knew that I wanted to work within the health industry - I just needed to work out in what capacity that was. After a lot of thought I realised I wanted to be involved in the patient journey more from the rehabilitation perspective which ended up leading me to physiotherapy.
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What’s your favourite part of treating clients?
The moment when a client develops self-efficacy - a belief in themselves and what they can achieve! That light bulb moment is incredibly rewarding, when you see that they apply that not just to their rehabilitation but to other aspects of their own self and health. Having them accept and apply the tools that we have worked on in the rehabilitative journey in a way that is preventative and self-rewarding means that I have completed the mission.

Why did you develop your interest in Chronic pain, Headaches, Spinal and Orofacial?
I loved the complexity of the diagnosis involved the problem-solving aspect as well. Peeling back the complexity of the condition – considering the psycho-social aspects of the presentation and then using that to help shape the treatment journey in a way that is individualised and specific for that person.  I am a big picture person, this area of the body allows me to explore that with the client and the reward when understanding the development of their pain state/condition in a way that is more holistic.

What’s the biggest myth that people believe about physios, that you wish they didn’t?
That, all we do is massage! Coming in with preconceived expectations due to poor education or misunderstanding from other health and non-health professionals. My role is to be a facilitator in their recovery and journey.

If you could give one piece of advice to all of your patients, what would it be?
That they have to find meaning and purpose in getting better, that the biggest reward in the journey to recovery is the development of self efficacy.