“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.1 The profession of physical therapy has been defined its ability to treat injuries, however, the American Physical Therapy Association aims to redefine the profession by offering “creative and proactive solutions to enhance health services delivery and to increase the value of physical therapy to society”.2 One aspect through which this vision may be achieved is the prevention of workplace injuries. In 2013, nearly 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries were reported, eighty percent of which occurred in private industries. Physical therapists have an opening to target a new population and to implement preventative measures in the workplace which will benefit companies and workers alike. Such …show more content…
interventions may include pre-screening workers, individual ergonomic assessments and interventions, as well as work conditioning and group education programs. Physical therapy intervention in the workplace will result in improved well-being of workers specifically targeting occupational, intellectual, emotional, physical, and social aspects of health. Ironically, health care professionals are among the most commonly injured workers in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing and residential care facility workers had the highest reported incidence of 13.7 workers per 100 with nearly 600,000 reported cases in 2013.3 Hoping to improve these shocking statistics, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has developed a handout to help healthcare organizations develop safe patient handling programs. OSHA reported that approximately half of injury incidents are related to musculoskeletal disorders, meaning having to do with nerves or musculotendinous units.4 Examples of such injuries include but are not limited to low back pain, tendonopathies, muscle strains, sprains, and tears. Preventing healthcare worker injury incidents will result in an improved work environment, fewer patient falls, and better patient comfort and satisfaction.4 According to OSHA, six key elements to guarantee a successful patient handling program include: gaining the support and commitment from management, a patient handling committee with care provider representation, assessing and addressing areas and tasks categorized as high risk, implementing methods that control these risks and the minimization of manual transfers and lifts, proper training and education techniques, and evaluation of the program and its procedures.4 If each of these steps are taken companies while working to implement a safe patient handling program in the workplace, the number of musculoskeletal disorders in the healthcare setting should decrease. The Gila Regional Medical Center designed and implemented a successful safe patient handling program that was intended to decrease the occurrence of low back pain incidents occurring within the hospital. Low back injuries are known to be the second leading cause of missed work days, falling short only to the common cold.1 Low back pain can be a serious problem and if not properly treated can keep workers out of work for days, weeks, and maybe even months. GRMC recognized this fact and aimed to decrease the number of missed work days and reduce worker’s compensation expenses. The physical therapists and physical therapy assistants collaborated to create an interactive safety program to educate new employees about the importance of having proper body mechanics, lifting techniques, and posture. In addition, the course allotted time for hands-on training with feedback and a written test to assess competence. The reaction to and overall success of this program led to the implementation of an annual class for caregivers to attend in which the techniques and strategies were reviewed and reinforced. The program was a success and led to a decrease in both the percentage of low back injuries and the ensuing worker’s compensation claims.1 Private industries should learn from Gila Regional Medical Center’s example and hire physical therapists to establish similar programs in their workplaces to maintain the safety of the workers and help save the company the hassle and expenses of worker’s compensation claims. While this hospital focused their program on low back pain, theoretically this approach could work for any injury. Generally an injury pattern develops in different work settings, which the therapist would be able to educate on prevention strategies or introduce a workout regimen to help decrease incidents or eliminate certain injuries found in the workplace. Such programs will impact the overall wellness of the workers. Socially, the workers will learn and work together, which may lead to increased cooperation and a better work atmosphere. Occupationally, preventative and educational programs should result in a lower incidence of injury. Fewer injuries should improve the employee’s emotional state, because it will lead to decreased stress on the worker from a decreased number of missed shifts and increased productivity. Ergonomics, a growing field in physical therapy is needed all over the workforce for healthcare professionals and office workers alike.
Typically companies will hire physical therapists to assess the posture and equipment used by employees as a preventative measure if suspect that a worker may get injured or if a worker is experiencing early stage injury symptoms.5 For example, the physical therapist may evaluate the body mechanics of a healthcare professional while performing a lift or transfer. The evaluation, critique, and possible ergonomic change from manual lift to mechanical lifts, may help prevent overexertion injuries or injury due to improper body mechanics. An orthopedic physical therapist will generally not see a patient until they have acquired an injury that requires intervention and treatment. If the injury was a result of repeatedly using bad body mechanics in the workplace, the patient will repeat the injury cycle rather than making a full recovery. Once injured, it is still important to assess the employee’s work posture and equipment used to prevent the viscous cycle of injury and reinjury. Physical therapy ergonomists stress primary prevention and are key players to prevention of workplace …show more content…
injuries. Pre-employment screening is another measure that may be taken by a physical therapist for prevention of workplace injuries.
The Pre-Employment Functional Assessment (PEFA) is to assess aerobic capacity, posture, balance and coordination, physical screening, and musculoskeletal assessment.7 The PEFA will help the physical therapist collaborate with employers and employees to determine strengths and weaknesses of the worker which can be addressed through physical therapy and the creation and implementation of an exercise program. The assessment will also allow for the employer to recognize any trends in deficits that would lead to the implementation of a work intervention program for all
employees. The physical demands and stresses placed on healthcare workers could be combatted with general strength training regimen. This program will help improve the overall social, physical, and emotional aspects of wellness as the healthcare professionals take steps toward physical improvements, engage in a healthy workout that will allow the workers to socialize outside the workplace environment, and help relieve stress which better the employees’ emotional well-being. The decrease in stress due to exercise may also lead to a better night’s sleep, which will help workers be more awake and alert and less likely to get injured. Such an intervention will not only prove beneficial to the individuals, but also would be in the company’s best interest. Taking a preventative approach to workplace injuries may be costly up front, but will ultimately prove to be a good investment with the result of fewer reported incidents and worker’s compensation claims. Private industries should employ physical therapists to pre-screen workers, design and implement safe patient handling programs, evaluate workplace ergonomics, and implement exercise programs. Taking such measures will benefit companies and workers alike. Decreased incidence of injuries in the workplace will directly correlate with fewer missed shifts and will lead to increased productivity and efficiency. Physical therapists have an opening in their backyard and should take it. They have the opportunity to educate other healthcare professionals about the profession while instructing about better techniques and strategies of injury prevention. Not only will physical therapy intervention decrease the occurrence of injury, but it will also help improve the overall health of workers by strengthening physical, intellectual, emotional, and social aspects of wellness.
Imagine going up for the perfect lay-up, you make the shot but when you land you twist awkwardly and land on your knee. Laying on the ground, you feel the pain surging through your knee, the first line of defense is an athletic trainer, however if this accident happened when you fell on a wet kitchen floor you could expect much the same care from a physical therapist Athletic Trainers are the first to respond to sport related in game injuries, and provide care after injuries. In contrast physical therapist are not only there to fix accidental injuries, and treat chronic bone and joint they help with plans of care and rehabilitation for athletes and non-athletes after injuries. Physical Therapy play a important role in todays healthcare. Physical Therapy are experts of improving and storing motion , they contribute to their patients ‘ quality of life by keeping them healthy , fit , active and in medications . The first school of Modern Physical Therapy opened in Boston, MA , So Physical Therapy have been around for a long time. The Physical Therapy Association Organized by Mary McMillan. It later became the American Physical Therapy Association.World War ll brings changes to Physical Therapy was done at hospitals as patients recovered from injuries , surgeries or other ailments.
The career that I chose to study was a Physical Therapist. I chose to study physical therapy because it is something that I have become interested in. In this essay I will be telling you about the kind of work a physical therapist does, the skills required to be a physical therapist, the working conditions, the training and education required, the career outlook, and salary.
Theis, J.L., & Finkelstein, M.J. (2013). Long-Term Effects of Safe Patient Handling Program on Staff Injuries. Rehabilitation Nursing, 39, 26-35. DOI:10.1002/rnj.108
My field of interest once I graduate from WCU is physical therapy. This care specialty uses biomechanics, manual and exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and various other therapy techniques to remediate injuries and impairments, as well as promote mobility. There are several types of physical therapy, including orthopedic, pediatric, geriatric, neurological, pulmonary, and cardiovascular. The field of physical therapy was established in Britain during the late 19th century. Then, in 1921, Mary McMillan established the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association, which later became the American Physical Therapist Association.
The leading cause of injury to nursing and hospital staff is the repeated manual lifting, and lifting and transferring of patients. This increasing incident rates cost to healthcare organizations. “Safe Patient Handling” programs have become one of the top initiatives for healthcare organizations. With the help of this program, work-related injuries and injuries due to patient falls can be reduced. Hill-Rom’s high technologies, processes, and tools assist hospitals to enhance outcomes for patients.
I have dreamed of becoming a physical therapist since I was a child. A few of my family friends are physical therapists and it was just something that really interested me. Although some would think that a Physical Therapists career is smooth sailing, healthcare professionals challenge a series of regulatory and ethical issues in the modern varying practice settings. I grew up wanting to help people in some type of way, but after researching more about physical therapy I found out that doing what’s best for someone such as a patient is often manipulated and, at times, compromised. Clients are manipulated by other factors, including rules or guidelines linked
People have created a hectic and busy world, that includes careers and daily activities that require physical activity. While attempting to attain the required physical conditioning, people often take chances with their personal health as they try to stretch their physical limits. Sometimes, people can surpass their current limits and form new boundaries; however, other times people are not so fortunate. These unfortunate times often lead to injury, including workplace accidents, sporting incidents, disease afflictions, as well as others; any or all of which could bring about the need of rehabilitation services. Many of these require physical therapy, which includes assisting injured or otherwise impaired patients as they recover to their pre-injury status or to recover as much as is physically possible. The field of physical therapy is a choice career for those who enjoy helping people recover from injury, and the following text will provide reason for choosing this profession.
It takes a unique individual to want to become a Physical Therapist. These professionals have a lot of personal traits that are a must need to excel in the Physical Therapy field. A Physical therapist could be faced with a patient/client that might be angry, sad, or confused, so being able to relate to these individuals is a great quality all therapist must have. These personal traits are skills like being relaxed and determined, supportive, and of course knowledgeable.
“Your job as an aide is to make sure all the patients are attended to without compromise, maintaining the flow of the clinic, and that you represent not just yourself anymore, but the entire physical therapy staff”. I was told these words on my first day as a physical therapy aide. Since this was my first experience in a Physical therapy setting, it made me afraid of the therapist who spoke the words to me, and of the job requirements ahead of me. Overtime, these words set me on the path to learning the important values necessary to be a successful physical therapist. Values such as professional demeanor, accountability, and striving to give the best effort to help the patients were the main points the therapist emphasized in his words to me. All these values had one main goal, and that was so the patient can receive the best possible care. These values stuck
My journey to pursue an education in physical therapy actually originates from my early childhood. I endured a very impoverished upbringing and my family’s socioeconomic status was below the poverty line. At a very young age, money became the central issue of my life. I found myself worrying about mortgages, health bills, and grocery money. As I grew older, I vowed to myself that I would not endure my family’s financial burdens into my adulthood. I knew the best way to accomplish this was by obtaining a college degree and having a professional career. However, I was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. I experimented with many different career ideas, but during my sophomore, I discovered my passion and skill for physical medicine. For my
All athletes get injured right? So who exactly allows them to run the fields again? There is a specific person meant for just that, a Physical Therapist. A career that would be fit for someone who enjoys being active and being involved in sports. As a way to help people, Physical Therapy is a very important career to any individual who is looking to get better, Physically. They attend any person,it doesn’t matter what age or gender. Over all this career is most important to athletes, who may get injured and need someone to help them get back in shape. As you continue to read, you will learn about the conditions and requirements needed to be a Physical Therapist. You will read about how not everyone is fit
The individual filling the position of the physiotherapist also has the responsibility of training the other staff members on how each piece of equipment works. The physiotherapist is required to inform other staff members on how the equipment can be used for different conditioning and rehabilitation purposes. The Fit Stop also employs one individual with a bachelor degree in Kinesiology in order to provide advice to clients based on specific sports or physical activities. The need for extrinsic rewards is much higher than the need for intrinsic rewards due to all of The Fit Stop’s employees being full-time.
Physical therapy is a fun and exciting healthcare profession that helps people. It is all about helping other people who have problems with their body, muscles, joints and other parts of their body. Patients includes accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Physical therapy will perform an evaluation of your problem or difficulty. They evaluate your problem by performing tests and measures to assess the problem. These tests includes muscle strength, joint motion, sensory and neurological, coordination, balance, observation, palpation, flexibility, postural screening, movement analysis, and special tests are designed for a particular problem. Next, they develop a treatment plan and goals and then manage the appropriate treatment to aid in recovery of a problem or dysfunction. Physical therapists are able to treat their patients by using many different treatments depending on the type of injury. Some of the treatments are electrical stimulation, hot and cold packs, infrared and ultrasound to reduce swelling or relieve pain. These treatments are used to help decrease pain and increase movement and function. Therapeutic exercises instructions will help restore strength, movement, balance, or skill as a guide towards full functional recovery. Physical therapy provides "hands on techniques" like massage or joint mobilizations skills to restore joint motion or increase soft tissue flexibility. They will focus on basic skills such as getting out of bed, walking safely with crutches or a walker, moving specific joints and muscles of the body. Physical therapists treatment includes patient education to teach them how to deal with a current problem and how to prevent the problem in the future. Such documentation is used to track the patient's progress, and identify areas requiring more or less attention. They encourage patients to use their own muscles. Their main goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and home.
Physical therapists are health care professionals that provide therapeutic services to their patients who have temporary or chronic physical conditions that were caused from injury or disease. Physical therapist also provided therapeutic services to patients after they have gone through surgery to help them gain back mobility and manage their pain. They can also work in preventive care by promoting healthy life styles and instructing individual patients or groups on preventing injury by using exercises that stretch and strengthen muscles. To help their patients try to recover they use massage techniques, wellness plans, and different types of equipment. When a physical therapist sees a patient for the very first time they must do an examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and then put together a physical intervention to start the rehabilitation process. They also work as a team with other health care professionals to help with their patients needs. Physical therapist can really make a difference in their patient’s lives by not only providing therapeutic services but also encouraging and motivating them so they can get better. The main goals of physical therapist are to help their patients retain or gain back lost physical mobility, eliminate or reduce pain, increase productivity and help promote a healthy life style so patients can have a better quality of life and become more independent.
Accidents occur in the workplace but in secret. These most of the time lead to physical and mental injuries that might affect the worker way of living for the rest of their lives. It is estimated that more than 337 million workers get injured in their place of work or in the course of work every year leading to work-related diseases causing about 2.3 million deaths per year (United States Department of Labor, n.d.).