In Ep.216 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, entitled ‘The Patient No-One Told You How To Treat’, host Matt Phillips is joined by special guest Alistair Beverley, Director of LDPhysio.com, promoting and improving healthcare services for those with learning and lifelong physical disabilities.

Alistair will presenting in the STA Theatre at Therapy Expo this year, at 2.25pm on Day 1 (Nov 27th), discussing the skills we as soft therapists can take from learning how best to support patients with a Learning Disability, something most of us are certainly not taught in our training.

With around 1.5 million people in the UK having a learning disability, Alistair emphasizes the importance of understanding and improving healthcare services for this community. The conversation delves into the concept of diagnostic overshadowing, where symptoms are wrongly attributed to a patient’s circumstances, be it a learning disability, their age, or even their gender. Alistair highlights the need for better education and awareness among healthcare providers to prevent such errors and improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, listeners are introduced to Violet, a rescue dog with mobility issues whose life Alistair and his family saved. We recommend you watch the video recording of this episode on the Sports Therapy Association YouTube to see Violet’s amazing journey.

Violet becomes a metaphor for resilience and the power of small actions in making a big difference. Alistair’s story of adopting and rehabilitating Violet serves as an inspiring reminder of the impact of empathy and tailored care, not just for animals but for patients with unique needs.