Communication in Physical Therapy

Communication is an innate function that human beings perform beginning at the time they are born. Communication is performed when we cry as infants, make eye contact with the opposite sex across a crowded night club and even when we squeeze the hand of a loved one before we are enveloped in death. Verbal and non-verbal cues are extremely important aspects of communication. At times, non-verbal cues are more important than verbal cues when it comes to conveying a message. Sometimes, with communication, it is not what you say, but how you say it. Even active listening is a form of communication.

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses in communicating, which may be dependent on their personality type. Taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), I found that I am an EFSJ (extrovert, sensing, feeling, judging) personality. My personality type indicates the weakness and strong aspects of how I communicate.

Currently, I feel that I have above-average communication skills using both verbal and non-verbal cues. Being an extrovert, my interactions with other individuals comes freely and naturally. I use open body language and posture, leaning forward making the person I am speaking to feel I am giving them my full attention.

A person's eyes are very expressive, and an important tool in communicating with others. No matter where you are in the world, you can look into another person's eyes and instantly know if that person is trustworthy or dishonest, understanding or impatient, mean or sincere. Eye-contact is very important, although it may be a detriment if I am working with a culture which does not approve of eye-contact, as it is something I make sure I do. Nodding is another non-verbal confirmation of listening, which should be done appropriately not excessively like you are "nodding someone to death."