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FeedThe New Physical Therapy
Modern PT does more than help patients recover from injury and surgery. It helps keep them in condition to prevent problems. Here’s how.
By Reid Champagne Published April 9, 2010 at 09:14 AM
(page 1 of 2)
Fox Rehabilitation physical therapist Mimi Schiller of Wilmington recalls a 90-something patient complaining about weight training.“I explained to him that studies have shown muscles will respond and get stronger, no matter what age you begin to train,” Schiller says.
Strong muscles are important for the elderly, because good muscles promote good balance, which helps prevent life-threatening falls, Schiller says.
“Ask anyone who is elderly what their greatest fear is and they will tell you it is the fear of falling,” says Schiller, a geriatric physical therapist of 27 years. “We try to show them how improved balance, mobility and strength can help them remain in their assisted-living environment instead of slipping into conditions requiring more intense nursing home care.”
As much of today’s physical therapy is as aimed at prevention of injury and general physical decline as it is geared toward the traditional idea of helping people recover from injury or surgery. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, licensed and certified physical therapists can assist in relieving pain associated with arthritis, back and knee pain, osteoporosis, stroke, overuse injuries and limb injuries, thus improving mobility. According to a survey sponsored by the association, 88 percent of physical therapy clients say the care they received helped them return to normal activity, increase mobility and reduce pain.
Effie Elliott, manager of Bayhealth Medical Center’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, says physical therapy has evolved from an early focus on performing services for patients to teaching patients to help themselves.
“We stress education and prevention and home exercise over intervention on our part,” says Elliott.
Graham Robbins, director of rehabilitation services for Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, says his goal is to prevent patients from returning to rehabilitation by optimizing their independence. “We stress the education components so that patients can speed rehabilitation and strengthen the body to better prepare it against re-injury,” Robbins says. “The strategy today in physical therapy is to do more sooner for better outcomes. There’s less reliance on bed rest.”
Specialization is another area where the latest in physical therapy thinking breaks with its past.
“There are more certified specialties than before,” says Elliott. “Specialization helps therapists be more focused, and they can serve as mentors and trainers to other therapists.”
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