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Opinions expressed by the Blog authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, APTA.

Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy

Lifestyle Medicine in Physical Therapy

As a refresher, let's review the 6 basic components of lifestyle medicine according to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). Lifestyle medicine includes the following components:

  • Nutrition
  • Physical activity
  • Restorative sleep
  • Stress management
  • Avoidance of risky substances
  • Social connection
Strategic Insights: Informative Approaches for Clinical Practice Guidance

Strategic Insights: Informative Approaches for Clinical Practice Guidance

The initial interview provides most of the information needed to help guide clinical practice. However, sometimes it can be a challenge to extract the necessary information that is meaningful and pertinent to respective clinical presentations. We need to analyze these strategies, as they can be useful to help direct clinical reasoning throughout the episode of care. These approaches should remember to be person-focused, as healthcare is truly individualized. Therefore, we should further explore which strategies would be the most beneficial to generate positive outcomes.

Science Isn’t Finished Until It’s Understood

Science Isn’t Finished Until It’s Understood

As a second-year student attending a professional event, I had just sat through a presentation that was, for lack of a better term, Greek to me. The intricacies of the topic had me lost in a maze of jargon and complex diagrams. Yet, mere hours after that presentation, I found myself engrossed in a conversation with the speaker at the event happy hour. The difference? Fifteen minutes of a genuine conversation illuminated what a two-hour presentation could not.

Beyond Degrees: 15 Effective and Economical Ways for Physical Therapists to Communicate Knowledge

Beyond Degrees: 15 Effective and Economical Ways for Physical Therapists to Communicate Knowledge

In an age dominated by digital communication, there's an ever-present need for professionals to share their expertise. For physical therapists, this need is especially critical. While the thought of returning to academia for a communications degree may be daunting, it's not the only route.

Person-Centered Pain Management: Follow the Recipe

Person-Centered Pain Management: Follow the Recipe

Person-centered pain management has been the center of recent literature emphasizing the complex and individualized nature of pain. While previous models in pain management emphasized treatment of the ‘average’ patient (ie, patient with non-specific low back pain), person-centered models put the patients’ beliefs, expectations, and goals at the center of the treatment plan. Clinicians who wish to practice evidence-based pain care should update their understanding of how and why person-centered care models should be the gold standard.

This is How I Roll! Assistive Devices in Animal Physical Therapy

This is How I Roll! Assistive Devices in Animal Physical Therapy

We all know the importance of assistive devices in providing modified or improved independence to our patients. Analyzing function and making modifications to maximize mobility and efficiency is one of the primary roles of a physical therapist. This holds true in the world of physical therapy for animals as well. As physical therapists crossing over into the collaborative world of veterinary rehabilitation, we bring our expertise and creativity to help creatures of all sizes and species.

What Defines Physical Therapist Practice in the 21st Century?  Maybe It’s Something Ancient—the Physical Examination

What Defines Physical Therapist Practice in the 21st Century? Maybe It’s Something Ancient—the Physical Examination

I have always enjoyed learning from my patients. So, when the day came that a just-retired neurologist picked his way through my clinic’s front doors, I had big plans. As the oxycontin wore off and his face brightened, I began the work of persuading him to demonstrate a neurological exam to our staff. Coincidentally, I had been consuming everything possible related to the topic. 

The Illusion of Specificity – Are We Doing What We Think We Are Doing?

The Illusion of Specificity – Are We Doing What We Think We Are Doing?

Would it be easier to identify 1 of 1,000 reasons a patient might get better? Is it ever really just one exercise, stretch, or treatment that gets someone better? Or is it a blend of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, physiology, psychology, and many other factors that elicit progress?

Incorporating Evidence Into Exercise Prescription

Incorporating Evidence Into Exercise Prescription

Exercise programs commonly incorporate aerobic and strength training components. How far should an athlete be pushed when doing exercise in terms of intensity? Physical therapists who work with athletes aim to use optimal intensity for strength training. The purpose of this blog is to discuss evidence-based exercise prescription and offer a tool for improving precision in exercise recommendations. Exercise prescription incorporates volume, exercise density, and intensity.

Get Back to Movin’ and Groovin

Get Back to Movin’ and Groovin

Physical Therapy is naturally an activity-focused therapeutic specialty, but what happens when a patient is afraid of moving? Positive motivation during movement supports the delivery of effective therapeutic treatments towards returning the patient to their optimal state of movement and happiness.