Kyle Shewfelt’s training accident looked like it would shatter his Olympic dreams along with his knees. The damage from a fluke landing before the World Gymnastic Championships in 2007 saw him confined to a wheelchair, skin hanging off his legs. In the 11 months of painful rehab and retraining that followed, doctors, athletes, even Shewfelt himself believed that recovering in time would take a miracle. Yet come Beijing, there he was, competing alongside the rest of Team Canada. At the end of his routine, he walked across the arena, arms outstretched, to pull the person who made it all possible into a hug: Susan Massitti, physiotherapist.
 
 
From Olympic glamour to neonatal care, physiotherapy is a thriving profession with a variety of career options. Physiotherapists work with athletes, the elderly, infants and anyone else in need of rehabilitation due to injury, disease, or other complications. Their goal is to see the people under their care restore as much of their movement and physical ability as possible. As holistic practitioners, physiotherapists will use everything from medicine to nutrition to massage to acupuncture.
 
The regular practices a physiotherapist uses didn’t change for Massitti at Beijing. She still provided physical therapy, still served as a friendly ear for frustrations. The difference was in the intensity of her relationships with the athletes and her level of commitment. "I didn’t go to the opening ceremonies. For two of the athletes it was critical that they needed care," says Massitti.
 
Massitti’s place at the Olympics was a direct result of the need of Team Canada’s athletes. They asked for her by name. She credits this to the relationships and trust she built with them over time as a sports physiotherapist. Her approach is "to see the person as well as the injury." She believes that emotional and mental states are linked to physical ones, and adjusts her methods to include them. Those methods can be as simple as being there for someone who needs to cry things out, then administering a motivational kick in the pants. Massitti encouraged Kyle Shewfelt to write a blog to chronicle his rehabilitation and give him a feeling of sharing his story with a wider world.
 
Massitti was there from the moment Shewfelt was injured, helping him straighten out his legs and administering injections to keep his blood from clotting. She was at his side in the operating room, holding his hand during surgeries. She planned out his exercise routines, brought him new therapy techniques to try and provided emotional support. The positive effect of her treatment was evident in her patient’s blog.
 
"I can’t even begin to explain the tremendous role that Susan has played in this process," wrote Shewfelt. "I am actually getting a little choked up right now writing this because she is just absolutely amazing. She has been there for me... really been there. She understands the frustration, the pain, the feelings of wanting to give up. She is proactive, considerate, intelligent... but I think the best part of all is that I know that she really, really cares about me as an athlete and as a person."
 
Massitti believes establishing connections like those she had with Shewfelt are a key part of long term physiotherapy. She believes physiotherapists need "incredible people skills." She says supplementary courses on communication and her experience teaching helped her to empathize and connect.
 
Physiotherapists are constantly learning to improve their methodology, always looking to build on the foundation their education provides. They attend lectures, courses and workshops recommended by fellow practitioners and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Volunteer hours in community programs are necessary for building experience, and self-initiated research furthers knowledge.
 
A master’s degree program to get a job that demands ongoing professional development and countless volunteer hours seems like a big commitment. Some might find that commitment bigger than they can handle. But not Massitti.
 
"We work hard, we work way too hard," laughs Massitti, who works 40 to 60 hours per week. She says helping people reach their potential keeps her satisfied. "I know why I get those hugs, and it’s very rewarding, but it’s a huge investment."
 
Massitti invested time and effort to help Kyle Shewfelt across a near impossible 11 month journey. Though she missed the opening ceremonies, and Shewfelt fell short of climbing onto the winner’s podium, they had their own triumphs. Under the glare of the lights and cameras of the arena, they had their own personal ceremony and celebration. In an emotional embrace captured in pictures shown across Canada, the impact of the caregiver on her patient’s life was plain to see.
 
Asked about the workload, responsibilities and challenges she faces as a physiotherapist, Massitti says simply, "I wouldn’t change anything." jp