Stay Physical, With Therapy

Stay Physical, With Therapy

Ask five people what physical therapy is and I'll bet you a Spring Pass you get five different answers. The beauty is that physical therapy is very different depending on what the individual requires to optimize health and quality of life. A good therapist customizes treatment to reach a patient's goals and improve quality of life. This means that the process should be very different for a competitive skier and a deconditioned elder, even if both have knee injuries. Physical therapists are trained to identify limitations or dysfunction on many levels and problem solve in a way that best serves the patient.
Many don't realize that for those entering the field today, a Master's of Science or Clinical Doctorate (DPT) is necessary to qualify for the licensing exam. In addition, the American Physical Therapy Association is advocating for all educational programs to be DPT accreditated by 2020, generally 6-7 years of college education. All this training is geared toward evaluation and treatment sensitive to each individual's needs. This includes integration of a variety of body systems affecting one's health. Musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, integumentary, digestive/urinary, and emotional health are all part of this assessment process.
The advantage to this background is that a physical therapist can gear treatment toward the larger picture of health. An injured shoulder is not a separate entity, but a piece of the puzzle affecting daily activity, mental health, recreation, occupation, and social life. It is most therapists' intention to see this spectrum and work toward improvement through treatment, lifestyle changes, patient education, and home exercise. For the patient with pain, the treatment approach should include identifying the problem, working toward relief, and then preventing future pain. The injured athlete may need guidance in pacing his/her progression for optimal recovery. The client with neurological dysfunction and balance deficits should be instructed on home environment modifications to prevent falls. These are very different situations with different needs. Also, taken into account are individual characteristics. Factors including fear, attitude, motivation and bodily awareness must be recognized. Responsibility also lies on the therapist to educate the patient so they understand their body and can help prevent future impairments. To work with the patient and understand this broad approach will create the best outcomes.
What many don't realize is that one doesn't have to be suffering to benefit from therapy. Wellness promotion can be the sole purpose with prevention of future ailments being the primary goal. For someone that has had a heart attack and isn't quite sure just how to improve their fitness, physical therapy can be a great place to start. For the office worker with slight aches and pains, education in ergonomics and stretching to prevent carpul tunnel or thoracic outlet syndrome may be indicated. Unfortunately, our society has valued reaction instead of prevention in healthcare for much too long. Most problems are more successfully treated early in their course than later when dysfunction has escalated and negatively impacted physical activity or movement patterns.
Furthermore, every patient has the right to choose the physical therapist they utilize. As with any profession, some people work well together and some don't. Communication is the key to successful treatment to ensure that both understand the plan of care and how the patient is reacting physically and emotionally. Specialists in physical therapy may also better serve you. Training and expertise in many fields are part of physical therapy and can be overlooked. Physical therapists who are specialists in Women's Health, pediatrics and geriatrics, wheelchair evaluation, orthotics and brace fitting, Myofascial Release, and other manual therapies can help manage specific problems or pain. This can supplement or prevent a need for medication or more invasive medical options. If it's important to you, a bit of research may give you other alternatives.
To those young people looking for direction and wondering what occupation to pursue, I encourage an investigation of the field of physical therapy. Options are numerous with this degree. Sports physical therapy or rehabilitation from athletic injury is often the only mental picture people get when they think of this field. In actuality, one can work in hospitals, schools, with animals, in education, in research, or as specialist, among other options. It's an exciting time in our history to be involved with healthcare as technology changes, research diversifies, and health trends evolve. If working with a broad range of people and studying the human body and its condition interest you, physical therapy may be a good fit. With permission, shadowing a physical therapist for a day can be a good opportunity to learn more.
For more information, visit the APTA website, www.apta.org, or, contact a clinic with your questions. Be well and enjoy the day.

Submitted by Andrew Emery, PT at North Tahoe Physical Therapy 775-831-6600