After completing her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and spending time working in research, Flinders graduate Elyse Bell decided to broaden her career opportunities with a Masters of Physiotherapy.

 “I wanted to work with people, and help improve their physical health and well-being,” Elyse explains. “I’ve always been interested in anatomy and the Masters also allowed me to combine clinical and research skills.”

Elyse began her physiotherapy career as an allied health assistant and physiotherapist at Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALNH) for a year, before transitioning into a role helping people at with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the MS Society SA & NT, where she’d previously undertaken student placement during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I loved my placement,” Elyse says. “I had an amazing supervisor who valued new ideas and implemented them. The clients were lovely too. During my placement, I set up Zoom exercise classes and during my last session, they held up signs that said, ‘thank you’. It was so heart-warming. Who wouldn’t want to come back to that?”  

Since returning to the MS Society, Elyse has continued running exercise classes on Zoom, which have been a hit with both local, regional, and rural clients. “It makes life so much easier for clients to do a class online, especially as it reduces the time and effort of travelling to an in-person session.”

Elyse also runs a hydrotherapy exercise program at the Noarlunga Aquatic Centre, helping clients maintain their fitness with a mixture of strength, aerobic, balance, and cardio training.

“We’re trying to help clients reach the targets of the MS exercise guidelines,” Elyse explains. “A combined program means they’re getting a bit of everything. Exercise is extremely beneficial for slowing the progression of MS, helping people maintain their function, and concentrate on improving any specific issues.” 

Supporting holistic well-being

Throughout her career, Elyse has enjoyed the opportunity to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, including exercise physiologists, speech pathologists, support coordinators, nurses, and occupational therapists, to help achieve a client’s goals.

“It’s interesting to see the difference,” Elyse reflects. “In hospital, the focus is on discharging patients to a safe environment. But in a community setting, we focus on how the client wants to live their life.”

Elyse believes working inter-professionally has strengthened her knowledge and ability to assist patients holistically.

“For example, in a hospital, I’ve worked with occupational therapists (OTs) to assist with mobility, which has also allowed the OT to complete an assessment,” Elyse explains. “At the MS Society, we have OTs who will do home modifications and put in applications for assistive technologies.

“Similarly, I have worked with an OT to ask the NDIS to provide a client with an electric tricycle (E-Trike), because it was equipment required for physical activity, rather than mobility. If funding is approved, I will then work with the client and their bike to improve their fitness, stability, balance, and safety.”

Elyse reflects on the significant impact inter-professional health care and support can have on people’s lives.

“One lady cried when she got her E-Trike, because now she can ride with her kids to school. Another client does a lot of travelling and wanted one she can fold-up to take with her, as she’s previously been unable to join her partner and friends on bike rides during their trips.

"It’s about their holistic well-being. Improving clients’ lifestyles, helping them participate in everyday activities with other people, as well as other benefits around exercise such as improving mood and getting out into nature."

Memorable experiences

Elyse believes she’s had many special moments as a physiotherapist. A recent memorable experience was her work with a client who had been having falls, was unable to stand without support, and had been to hospital several times because of these falls.

“I did weekly home visits with this client, and our focus was on leg strengthening, walking/gait re-training exercises, and improving posture,” Elyse says. “After three months, he stood up unaided for the first time in years, without feeling like he was going to fall. The client and his family were so proud of his achievements. He was able to visit me at the office. Being able to leave the house was quite difficult for him."

When reflecting on her journey as a physiotherapist, Elyse notes that the most rewarding part is seeing clients improve.

“It’s about achieving goals,” Elyse says. “People with living MS can be unsure of what the future will hold, especially with a progressive, neurological condition. Dealing with any new diagnosis is difficult, so when you start working with them and they see improvements, they recognise there are ways of managing it and it won’t impact their life the way they thought it was going to. It makes a huge difference.

My role at the MS Society (SA & NT) can be challenging, but when you see someone improve — even if it’s just getting out of a chair more easily — it makes it worthwhile.” 

Flinders graduate and physiotherapist Elyse Bell believes her role is extremely rewarding.