THE SKEPTICS

Oh! The nonbelievers.  Sometime in your job you will probably have to work with a nonbeliever or a skeptic. That is the individual and many times the consumer who just does not believe your job is important or that the products or services you provide are necessary.

  I love the skeptic, or maybe I should say,  I love to prove the skeptic wrong.

"Hello,  My name is Becky and I will be your Physical Therapist.  I see that you had a menisectomy surgery (knee surgery, not necessarily minor but not too complicated.)  about a week ago and the doctor is now ordering physical therapy twice a week for one month."

She replied with an attitude,  "Hi, yes I had surgery a week ago and I am doing just fine.  I do not need physical therapy.  I think you are in cahoots with the doctor and I do not think this is necessary. I think it is all a scam to get my money.  I came today, but I will probably not come again."

Ok then.  A skeptic walked in and a believer will walk out.  Just wait.

I could tell by the way she was walking that she had some weakness in the knee.  I knew just the right test to win her over.

"Okay, let me know do an evaluation,  I will do electrical stimulation to decrease the swelling and teach you some exercises.  After we are through, we will discuss the need for future appointments."

She replied,  "Ok, but I do not need physical therapy.  It is all a scam."

During the evaluation, I asked her to lift her leg with her toes pointing outward, keeping the knee straight.  She attempted the movement and was unable to lift the leg.  The muscle required to perform this activity, the vastus medialis, was completely atrophied or shrunk up and was not strong enough to lift the leg.

Her response was, "Well shit,  I can't do it.  I guess I do need physcial therapy".

Ahhhh, One skeptic down, One new believer.

This individual recovered fully.  She is able to golf and bowl with no problems and has become a good friend of mine.  An extremely good outcome.

Don't let a skeptic get you down.  Rise to the challenge and prove your importance.