Spring 2015 Alumni Profile

By: Jocelyn Adams, Communications & Special Project Assistant

As the School’s 50^th Anniversary Weekend approaches, we are honoured to recognize the successful careers of our alumni. Each season Physiotherapy Matters features the professional work, knowledge and expertise of our alumni. This spring, the School is delighted to feature the dynamic career of Barbara Adams, a BScPT graduate from the class of 1984. Adams’ career in physiotherapy spans across many areas of physiotherapy and includes positions with the Atlantic Balance and Dizziness Centre, and PhysioCare at Home, and the successful author of the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Owner’s Manual.

Adams’ passion for helping others began at a young age. At the age of 12, Adams and her husband Kerry began volunteering with a YMCA program called Upward Bound. The program was designed to have students work one-on-one with children with special needs every Saturday. Adams knew she loved working with people and especially enjoyed the feeling she received when working at Upward Bound. During a conversation with her father (Jack Hare) he suggested she consider a career in physiotherapy. “I’ve known I wanted to be a physiotherapist since I was 12. I’ve never considered anything else,” said Adams.

Physiotherapists have a huge impact on communities. Barbara learned early in her career the value of physiotherapy. “When I was a new graduate I didn’t realize the enormity of the impact physiotherapists can have on both healthy Canadians as wells as those who are injured or disabled. We as physiotherapists have a huge leadership role within our communities. Not moving and not being healthy has turned out to be one of the most important issues worldwide,” said Adams.

Physiotherapy continues to progress as a profession. Over the course of her career, Adams reflects on the biggest change she has seen in physiotherapy. “As physiotherapists, we have evolved from doing things 'to' our patients to teaching our patients how to treat themselves. This way their treatment can be sustained,” said Adams.

A life altering diagnosis would change her perspective on the profession. In 1991, Barbara and over 1500 hospital staff were exposed to toxic air quality. Adams’ health slowly declined as she eventually developed Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. “At the time, I didn’t know what these disorders were. My personal life, work and health imploded,” said Adams. After seven years of suffering, she slowly returned to work with a new perspective on life and her profession.

Over the years, she has explored many areas of clinical work and research in her profession across Ontario and Nova Scotia. Today she holds a variety of dynamic physiotherapy positions in Halifax. Currently she is a Physiotherapist in Chronic Pain Fatigue Management Consultant at the Atlantic Balance Dizziness Centre, combining the specialties of chronic pain and vestibular disorders. For Adams, the most exciting part of this position is lifting the fears and frustrations of someone suffering from chronic pain. “When patients find out I have Fibromyalgia and I share with them the skills and knowledge I needed to learn 22 years ago there is an instant comradery. I’ve gone through it. I know what they’re going through.”  

In addition to her position at ABDC, she also works as a Physiotherapist and is Clinical Director of 15 staff at PhysioCare at Home. In this role she is active in falls prevention for the elderly and helping people live healthy and fulfilling lives. “The most rewarding part is taking the emotional turmoil that comes with aging and providing the scientific answers to the simplest of questions. For example, is their furniture too high? Can their loved one stay at home? PhysioCare at Home can help to provide answers to families and be the advocate, especially for seniors who can’t advocate for themselves,” said Adams.

In 2008, Adams self-published the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Owner’s Manual. She completed a number of studies since then and rewrote her book. It is now called the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Owner’s Manual © 2014 and was featured on DocTalk in Nov 2014. It is available at the Dalhousie University Bookstore, locally and online (www.fibrophysio.com).

Adams' primary reason for writing the book is that she has lived with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain and wanted to be a voice for others living with the condition. The book is designed for those suffering from chronic pain and Fibromyalgia, family members of those living with the condition, health care providers and disability care managers/employers. “When I got injured I couldn’t find much on the condition. There were a lot of vague recommendations but few specific research based recommendations. When writing the book it forced me to be very scientific. The 40 chapter, 388 page book offers full Physiotherapy Asssessment and Treatment Guidelines for these two conditions. The most rewarding part for me was when actress/comedian, Melissa McCarthy asked me for my autograph when I gave her a copy of my book,” said Adams.

Outside of her physiotherapy positions she is a speaker and volunteer for a number of non-profit organizations. Her volunteer positions include the VON, Community Links, Serving Seniors Alliance, and is a guest speaker for the Arthritis Society.

Across the span of Barbara’s career the most rewarding experience was working with a patient in ICU. In her first year of practice, she worked with a man who went into a coma for four months. Twice a day she performed passive range on all his joints. An ICU nurse asked, “Why bother?” She replied, “I treat everyone as if they are my family.” When the man woke up she worked on the floor with him for another two months. When the man was ready to be discharged, she asked if he would walk with her to meet the ICU nurse. She introduced the nurse to the man who stood in front of her, “This is why I did what I did. I still feel that way, 30 years later!” concludes Adams.