Social Medicine

By Duke Autret, Myotherapist

As healthcare professionals, we understand that physical health is not solely determined by medical treatments or therapies. There are a variety of social determinants of health that influence a person's well-being, including access to healthcare, education, employment, housing, and more. In this article, we will explore some of the common considerations regarding the social determinants of health and how they apply to physical health and myotherapy.


Access to Healthcare
Access to healthcare is a crucial social determinant of health that affects a person's physical health outcomes. Lack of access to healthcare can lead to untreated chronic conditions and injuries, which can result in more severe health problems down the line. 
At Simple Wellness Myotherapy, we prioritise accessibility by accepting private health insurance plans and offering affordable pricing options. 
We also ensure that we provide a treatment plan that is inclusive of low cost or free at home care advice, such as exercises that can be completed at home without expensive equipment or subscriptions, and other home care or lifestyle modification advice that helps your manual therapy treatment become even more effective.

Housing 
Housing quality and stability have a significant impact on physical health. Poor living conditions, such as mould or pests, can exacerbate chronic conditions such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, respiratory conditions like asthma, and allergies. We understand that living in an environment that causes a chronic condition to flare up can also lead to an increase of physical symptoms including pain, fatigue and restlessness. 
Additionally, unstable housing situations can lead to stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact physical health. 
As part of our myotherapy practice, we ask our patients about their life circumstances and work to provide them with resources to improve their living conditions or to find modifications that can help reduce the impact of those influences.

Education
Education level and access to educational opportunities can also affect physical health outcomes. People with lower levels of education are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking or unhealthy diets, which can lead to chronic conditions.
We also recognise that health education is somewhat lacking generally, from early childhood through to adulthood, and that there are a lot of outdated health beliefs that are no longer supported by evidence.
At Simple Wellness Myotherapy, we aim to educate our patients about healthy lifestyle choices and offer resources for further education and skill-building.

Employment
Unemployment or underemployment can lead to financial stress and inadequate access to healthcare, both of which can negatively impact physical health. As part of our myotherapy practice, we encourage our patients to prioritise their physical health, even if it might mean taking time off work or seeking alternative employment options that allow for better work-life balance. 
We can also help advocate for a better ergonomic work environment by providing a letter to your employer with suggested modifications that will help you prevent injury and pain, and prevent them from having a WorkCover case - this might include the suggestion of having an official ergonomic assessment completed, or small modifications like switching a handheld phone for a headset; providing a chair with better lumbar support; or requesting that your employer allocate you lighter duties while you are being treated for an injury.

Community
Social isolation and lack of social support can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues that can also very much affect physical health. 
Our myotherapy practice focuses on creating a supportive community for our patients, providing a safe and welcoming space for them to discuss their physical and mental health concerns. 
We prioritise creating meaningful connections and therapeutic relationships with our patients. If you like to chat and socialise throughout your treatment, we’re here for that! If you prefer a quiet, peaceful treatment we will respectfully keep our discussion purely to the essentials of your treatment. Our therapists are empathetic and compassionate, and we can often tell if you’re feeling “not quite right”.
Where its needed, we can help refer you to additional support and our team are always happy to write up a letter to your GP or other healthcare professionals to make accessing care as simple as possible for you.


At Simple Wellness Myotherapy we understand the importance of addressing social determinants of health to improve physical health outcomes. We encourage our patients to communicate with us about their social situations and offer resources and support to help address any challenges they may face. We also aim to provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality care to all of our patients. By including the ‘bigger picture’ of our social factors to health, we can work towards creating a healthier and more equitable society.