October is National Physical Therapy Month1,2

The O&P PT wishes to celebrate fellow physical therapy colleagues and all individuals dedicated to health and wellness. Whether you’re in those early stages assessing your health risks/benefits and contemplating a plan or are a seasoned member of a local gym, it is always the right time to invest in yourself.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has launched a wellness campaign PT For Future Me focused on the benefits of physical therapy throughout all stages of life. The APTA provides a bounty of resources addressing all aspects of healthcare throughout the life cycle. Explore how you may implement these recommendations into action.

PT for O&P Rehabilitation3-5

Physical Therapists are movement experts adept at guiding individuals with improvement and restoration of function, injury prevention and healthy living. Physical therapy is an integral part of orthotics and prosthetics rehabilitation. Orthoses and prostheses are designed to augment physical function and support the body’s structure, however, require training for proper use. A physical therapist is highly experienced in gait training, strength conditioning, fall prevention and exercise prescription.

It is not uncommon when first learning to use an O&P device for the user to adopt an uneven or imbalanced walking pattern. A person’s center of mass may be shifted away from the side of weakness creating asymmetries with muscle activity. These compensations can lead to overuse, pain and injury. A PT can help identify these patterns and provide the O&P user with proper strategies to excel with mobility and mitigate injury.

Image from APTA ChoosePT

Injury Prevention3-6

Physical therapy helps O&P users with pain management, stretching and strengthening necessary to prevent and treat overuse injuries. A PT is an expert in evaluating each individual’s unique needs. Identifying postural asymmetries and learning proper alignment to promote appropriate weight distribution, use of key muscle groups and optimal step mechanics are fundamental.

Moving properly helps prevent overuse injury, creates a more energy efficient gait pattern, reduces falls and allows for greater functional outcomes. Better health, participation in activities in daily living, endurance and independence are just a few of the positive outcomes from rehabilitation.

Image from APTA ChoosePT

Health & Wellness7-10 

Physical Therapists can provide a customized exercise program just for you. Everyone is an individual and while there are general exercise guidelines we should all follow, our personal goals, lifestyles and preferences play a key role. A PT can help find the right exercise tools that fit your physical and personal needs to promote wellness and quality of life.

Movement is medicine. Whether you walk short distances, propel a wheelchair throughout your community or are a world-class athlete, mobility is important to neuromuscular function and cardiovascular health. Individuals with a mobility disability are at greater risk for health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes as well as secondary impairments leading to poor chronic health. Participating in routine exercise can combat these diseases and increase activity levels.

Regular exercise extends beyond promoting physical health. Routine activity has shown to improve mental health & wellbeing, connections to established social networks, and return to work & recreation. This increased participation leads to independence and improvement of one’s quality of life.

Find a PT near you and invest in your healthy living.

Image from VistaCreate

References

  1. “PT For Future Me An APTA ChoosePT Campaign.” American Physical Therapy Association ChoosePT, https://www.choosept.com/prevention-wellness/future-me
  2. “PT For Future Me Patient Toolkit.” American Physical Therapy Association ChoosePT,   https://apta.widen.net/s/pp9zsvhtlb/choosept_ptffm-patient-toolkit
  3. APTA. “American Physical Therapy Association Guide to Physical Therapist Practice 4.0.”2023, https://guide.apta.org/
  4. Jorge, Milagros, et al. Orthotics and Prosthetics in Rehabilitation E-Book. Saunders, 2019.
  5. Sions, J.M., Oteri, M., Beisheim, E.H., Smith, S.C., Horne, J.R., and Sarlo, F.B. “Risk Factors for Falling and Multiple Falls among Adults with Limb Loss Beyond the First Year.” Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, vol. 32,2S (2020): 30-34.
  6. Choo, Yoo Jin, and Min Cheol Chang. “Effectiveness of an Ankle Foot Orthosis on Walking in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, Aug. 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95449-x
  7. “Physical Activity for People with Disability.” CDC Disability and Health, https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/physical-activity-for-people-with-disability.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/features/physical-activity-for-all.html
  8. Morgan, Kerri A., et al. “Mobility Disability and Exercise: Health Outcomes of an Accessible Community-Based Center.” Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, vol. 3, Mar. 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2022.836655/full
  9. Lai, Byron, et al. “Current Trends in Exercise Intervention Research, Technology, and Behavioral Change Strategies for People with Disabilities.” American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, vol. 96, no. 10, Oct. 2017, pp. 748-661. https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/abstract/2017/10000/current_trends_in_exercise_intervention_research,.9.aspx
  10. “Find a Physical Therapist Near You.” American Physical Therapy Association ChoosePT, https://www.choosept.com/find-a-pt
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