Throughout the years, as the world of physical therapy has grown, not much has changed in regards to what we treat as physical therapists. We are perceived as a reactive treatment practice because many people turn to physical therapy after an injury or surgery. Physical therapy has many benefits when it can used as a proactive treatment model as well. Instead of waiting for the injury or surgery to occur, there are ways to prevent it. Health screens are a useful tool for physical therapists to help an individual avoid future injuries and future surgeries. These preventative screens can provide useful knowledge to individuals who want to start work out programs or continue with their gym routine in the safest way possible.
Once a year health screens can be useful to everyone no matter what age range you are in. Younger populations, especially school aged athletes should take full advantage of screens conducted by physical therapists. Studies have shown that high school aged females have a higher risk of suffering from ACL injuries, but there are certainly ways to try to decrease the percentage of these injuries with screenings. Health screens will provide body awareness, teach proper body mechanics, and educate the individual on what areas to strengthen to avoid such injuries. The middle age population is a population known to be prone to neck and back injuries. Such screens will help identify areas of weakness and tightness which can lead to other muscle compensations.
The screens will assist therapists in determining the proper stretches and exercises to aid the individual in their daily lives. It is imperative for these individuals to take charge in combatting each ailment that can further deter them from spending time with their families or even missing work. Each age population will have many benefits to yearly health screens, but the one group that will benefit the most from them is the elderly population. The screens available to older people consist of range of motion, along with strength and balance. Screening for these imbalances will be greatly beneficial because the individual will be able to apply simple exercises at home to reduce the risk of falls and potential broken bones.
In my experience at our clinic, I have used this model with patients who do not necessarily need weekly physical therapy treatments as they have reached a high functioning level. I have them come in for three to six month follow up appointments to ensure they have not regressed with their exercises at home or in the gym. During these follow up appointments I am able to compare their start point to their daily functioning level and determine if there needs to be any changes or additions to their home exercise programs.
Yearly health screens and preventative screens are used as an educational tool for individuals that set goals for themselves and are determined to achieve them. For someone that is not an avid gym goer, a preventative health screen would allow this individual to understand his or her own body and what type of exercises to avoid as well as which would be most useful for them. This will ultimately help to achieve fitness goals without injury hindering their progress.
Physical therapy can be a great asset to the community. Therapists can play a big role in someone’s life by educating proper exercises, stretching routines, and providing tips to avoid unwanted injuries.
Michael Demetriades, DPT received his doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University. He has experience in working with all ages and injuries. Michael is a previous varsity hockey and baseball player who is well versed in the modern athlete. He can be contacted in Branford at (203)433-4683 or visit www.amitypt.com