Jeff Morton - Physio
About Me
My 'Why'
I am passionate about everything to do with MSK rehab.
However, It wasn't always this way. I believe this was largely a consequence of my formal education and the physiotherapy curriculum. MSK seemed quite simple from what I had been told and the body seemed to work like a machine. 'If it's stiff then move it, if it's weak then strengthen it' - if that was all there was to do then we probably wouldn't have half of the long term MSK problems then we do as a society!
Unfortunately this simplistic reasoning spanned many theories and practice, and it soon became clear that I hadn't really been let in on the truth when it comes to the nature of MSK health. I think this is something we all experience at some point, and it can be a little demoralising.
To be able to help the people who came to see me required a lot more than I had been given the tools for. And unfortunately there isn't an awful lot of guidance or structure once you have qualified when it comes to professional development. And so began my journey to delve into the areas that would help enrich my practice such as communication, biomechanics, motor learning and pain science, to name just a few.
There is quite a lot of help out there if you know where to look, and if you grasp the basic concepts. But getting to that point took a long time for myself, I didn't really have a guide.
I am still on my journey of professional development, but a deeply embedded core value of mine is to be able to help others and pass on knowledge. Not just to patients, but to my fellow MSK practitioners also. I know there are people out there feeling a bit lost or overwhelmed with were to start.
My combination of passion, discovery and love of teaching is my 'why' for sharing blogs, ideas and delivering mentorships and courses.
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My Background
My current position is that of Advanced Lower Limb Physiotherapy Practitioner working in the NHS. This role includes:
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Treating people with complex MSK presentations
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Leading diagnosis and triage clinics
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Ordering and interpreting imaging
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Being embedded within Orthopaedic clinics
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Research activity
Before stepping into my current role, I have spent the entirety of my career in the NHS. I am all too familiar with back to back patient pressures, the struggles of trying to facilitate behaviour change when everything including time and the way the medical system is structured is against you and all of the other issues that are all too common in physiotherapy practice.
Because full time work obviously wasn't enough I have also spent a lot of time in private and sports injury clinics.
Education:
BSc Physiotherapy (Hons) - Sheffield Hallam University (2014)
MRes: Recovery of Quadriceps Strength following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction within an NHS cohort - Edge Hill University, 2023
Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine (DipMSK) - Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, 2021
My Interests
Standout themes for me include:
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Biomechanics
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Motor Learning
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Meta-Science
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Complex systems approaches
These have been invaluable to me in my development and have equipped me with the tools to critically reflect on my practice and the literature. Now it is impossible for me not to consider these in my approach to every single patient! Keep an eye out for my blogs discussing these concepts a little further!
Since 2020 I have also had a professional online presence. This is something I would recommend to anyone as the contacts you can make and the necessity of defending your points in discussions undoubtedly challenges and improves your reasoning. One of my main drivers, however, for having an internet presence, is to be available to help likeminded people become the best therapist they can be. It is a journey that I am not at the start of, but have by no means completed and helping others navigate the complexity of what we do is a value that is deep-rooted within me.
I truly believe that we can push each other to become much better at what we do, and I hope that the information I put out on here and social media helps to fastrack learning in some topics but most of all, sparks some curiosity!