There are only a few who leave no stone unturned to make clients and families ‘feel at home’ in a physiotherapy clinic, and that’s exactly what Dr. Ushma Goradia has been doing. How? You may ask. In response, we proudly say that she makes differently-abled kids and adults achieve their fullest potential through her clinic - Activ Kaarya Physiotherapy. Ushma caters to young special needs children who have autism, cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, and learning difficulties. Additionally, she also helps adult patients with pain, stroke, and lymphedema.

Appreciating the goal of ‘improving the function of a person’, Women Entrepreneur India magazine engages in an exclusive conversation with Dr. Ushma Goradia. Below is the highlight from the interaction.

Let us know about your vision as a sensory-motor therapist.

As a therapist, I firmly believe that every client (particularly children) should be perceived as a whole entity and not compartmentalized into having sensory and motor deficiencies. This is because our sensory and motor components are connected, each feeds into the other, and I would like to describe the 2 systems as working in tandem thus enabling us to function.

It is not enough to achieve the motor milestones in a young child. Ensuring that the child engages in motor activities frequently during play is very crucial, providing the necessary sensory input, and laying the foundations of learning in general. Along with sensory and motor issues, many other functions such as communication, sleep, feeding, toileting, play, participation, and socio-emotional behaviour needs to be considered when we observe a child’s development. At Activ Kaarya, every child is evaluated keeping all of these functions in mind.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of your role as a founder? How do you overcome them?

We are a culture obsessed with academics, reading, and writing. As a society, we do not value the daily functions of independently eating, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, climbing stairs, and much more. It is difficult to make parents understand that chasing a ‘cure’ and academic improvement are not the purposes of therapy. Unfortunately, science still does not have a complete cure for autism and many neurological conditions. Therefore, it remains a challenge for me to communicate the value of physical therapy services to families. Parents need to be educated intensely about functional improvement that would lead to easier caregiving for their special needs’ child. Therapy builds sensorimotor foundations so crucial to every aspect of learning in life.

Treatment at Activ Kaarya entails parent involvement and carryover activities at home as a part of the play. It can be exasperating to realize that parents perceive therapy as some passage of rite. Parents not visualizing the link between therapy and participation in the external world can become a limiting factor in achieving progress. I am compelled to think of different words and varied examples, to explain to parents why home activities are as important as are actual therapy sessions. Using simplified language related to brain development and motor learning concepts has now become a frequent communication with parents. The cultural trait of over helping individuals with illness or disability can be frustrating to a therapist from the USA where independence is highly valued.

What have been the most significant milestones that you have achieved so far in your professional journey?

Looking at the clients gain their function back is the most rewarding milestones. The intangible achievements have been many. Little did I know before I moved to Bangalore that Activ Kaarya would be known as the most spacious and well-equipped pediatric clinic in the city.

I am humbled that parents have traveled from the ends of the city, more than 30 km each way to avail services at Activ Kaarya. There have been some families who have traveled to Bangalore from other countries and other states of India, stayed for weeks and months – only to avail treatment at Activ Kaarya. Many parents have explicitly expressed that I have helped them understand their child and look at child development in different and better ways. They have learned to bond with their special child, something that is very important in life.

“My philosophy is to help the parent in all possible ways to make the child as functional as possible, to integrate the child into the family and the world.”

This apart, it was very heartening when my professional journey from the garden state (New Jersey, USA) to the garden city (Bangalore, India) was published in the signature membership publication – the APTA magazine.

As a successful entrepreneur, what would your advice be to young women and girls aspiring to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Be prepared to invest time and effort in your practice, it is daunting, but not impossible. Work at other places for a few years, find a mentor, and gain experience. Experience matters! Learn the ropes of the field before jumping into your own business – finances, timings, productivity, being organized, and most crucial clinical skills. Remember that clinical skills will help spread the word about your business. Pursuing clinical skills helps not only your clients but increases our own growth and learning too. Qualifications can only impress clients superficially. But clients will stay only if you are sound clinically and provide good outcomes of treatment.

Today, clients are aware of a lot from the internet; they are not (and should not be) passive recipients of therapy. They tend to ask questions and professionals need to answer those questions. Hence, young women need to improve communication as well as many other soft skills. It is good to dream big, but not fast. Grow your practice slowly. Give yourself time to breathe, learn, and mould your style of practice that fits you and your clients. Only then you will enjoy what you do for a living.

Dr. Ushma Goradia, DPT, Activ Kaarya Physiotherapy

Ushma pursued her education and profession in India and the USA. Her journey started with a Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy in Mumbai, followed by a Master's and Clinical Doctorate in Paediatric Physical Therapy in the States. Additionally, Ushma completed Sensory Integration certification in 2010 and became a board-certified pediatric specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in 2012.