The importance of using the right language while talking science

The importance of using the right language while talking science

One of the biggest concern for me in PT (especially in India) is the advent of newer terminologies in describing- well either imaginary things or already existing things.

1.       The first example is a classic- the trigger point release. When I went to college it was called like in any sensible medical literature as tender spot. Along came the 2000s and with than came in fancy treatment-  TRp release.

The first issue is whether it is the Ashi point as they called in magic (I am referring to acupuncture) or trigger point as they call in some neo-magic (I am referring to chiro or something) is –why do we have to call it as trigger point and not tenderness. There are some half baked studies which looked into the histopathology of it and proven- well we don’t know for sure. However, there are also many studies which have consistently proven that reliability of finding them poor at the best. The next issue with the word release- what the hell is wrong with us to call something as release. These words come from a magical treatment called chiropractors – who studied magic rather than physiology when they wrote the term. However, we now are in the era of -free or easy access to knowledge, and we should know better. Muscle or pain is not something you release, it is such a complex phenomenon it is scholars are grappling with it for many years, but we are just, “I released the trigger point and the patient is alright”. This reflects very poorly on worth, we are more intelligent then that. 

                So, pray what should we refer to ask my friend? Well, the muscles relaxes, beautifully named as “Hold and relax” by Knott and Voss. Relaxation is a phenomenon of the muscle- not release. As for trigger point, well pray –Sarwathi visits us and we all read medical literature other than Facebook posts.

Of course there are 100s of therapist who are going to say- well this guy is a moron, I have seen it, I have seen people getting better etc.

     

2.       Bone has eroded- (you know what we say in our vernacular). It is high time we talk about back pain, OA as a disease not as pathology. Talking it as a p athology makes you want to change the pathology, it creates so much anxiety in the patients mind. We need to have a better language in patient education regarding these diseases. Just, keep the x-ray or MRI in the cover rather than seeing it.

3.       Facebook- it is a proper noun- it cannot be called as முக- நூல்- come on people Hariohm is Hariohm in any language. Thank god we did not translate- google,  cognizant (which again can be translated unlike google)

4.