Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a specialty that is concerned with the prevention of disability and post acute care treatment following hospitalization for a medical or surgical problem leading to impairment.

The goals of physical therapy are:

• Help patients regain diminished physical function, which has been lost secondary to injury or disease
• Relieve pain

Physical therapists perform appropriate tests to evaluate neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and sensory-motor functions. By determining the depth of impairment, physical therapists are then able to help patients return to full function by the use of various physical agents to decrease pain and by the use of therapeutic exercise to increase strength, endurance and coordination.

The unique approach to evaluating impairments and treatment allow patients to return to meaningful occupational and recreational pursuits.

In addition to the treatment of injuries and physical disabilities, physical therapists play a major role in the prevention of disability by teaching people the importance of physical fitness and the relationship between health, nutrition and disease.

Physical therapists work at the Scott & White Center for Advanced Medicine, Scott & White Home Health Agency, The Center for Rehabilitation at Scott & White, the Scott & White Hewitt Physical Therapy Clinic and Santa Fe Skilled Nursing Facility.

Specialized physical therapy services include:

• Burn and wound management
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Pediatric physical therapy
• Lymphedema
• Musculoskeletal/orthopedic therapy
• Multi-trauma therapy
• Geriatric dervices
• Neurologic deficits
• Physical therapy modalities and assistive devices used in treatment
• Prosthetics/orthotic training

Burn/Wound Management

Physical therapists can add certain physical modalities to the care plan. Pulsed lavage, wound vacuum management, wound packing and wrapping, unna boot placement and compression therapy are physical therapy modalities that have been used to enhance wound healing.

All of these modalities are used as adjunct treatments that, when appropriate, may help shorten the length of treatment and reduce patient suffering.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Balance is the ability to maintain the body in equilibrium with gravity both statically (e.g. while stationary) and dynamically (e.g. while walking). Persons with balance / coordination deficits due to trauma, disease, stroke or other impairment are assisted through physical therapy in improving their balance by following individual treatment plans established by a physical therapist after a thorough evaluation.

Treatment plans may include balance activities, sensory training, and ambulation training possibly with an assistive device, therapeutic exercise and modalities as appropriate.

Pediatric Rehabilitation

Pediatric physical therapy assists in early detection of health problems and uses a wide variety of modalities to treat disorders in the pediatric population.

These therapists are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases.

Treatments focus on improving gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, strength and endurance as well as cognitive and sensory processing/integration.

Children with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and torticollis are a few of the patients treated by pediatric physical therapists.

Lymphedema

Training for initial management utilizing low stretch wrapping. Fitting elastic garments for individuals with lymphedema.

Patients are seen for education in lymphedema prevention after a mastectomy.

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Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic Therapy

Orthopedic physical therapists manage and treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitate patients post orthopedic surgery. This specialty of physical therapy is most often found in the out-patient clinical setting.

Orthopedic therapists are trained in the treatment of post operative joint replacements, acute sports injuries, arthritis and amputations just to name a few.

Joint mobilizations, strength training, hot/cold packs, and electrical stimulation are modalities often used to expedite recovery in the orthopedic setting.

Those who have suffered injury or disease affecting the muscles, bones, ligaments, or tendons of the body will benefit from assessment by a physical therapist specialized in orthopedics.

• Joint contractures
• IT band syndrome
• Patellar tendinitis
• Anterior knee pain
• Shin splints
• Chronic ankle sprains
• Plantar fasciitis/heel pain
• Achilles tendinitis
• Other forms of tendinitis & tendinopathies

Multi-trauma Therapy

Therapy programs may follow specific protocols or individualized treatment plans with the aim of therapy being the return of strength, function and mobility.

The programs may involve a variety of treatment options with goals set for the patient to resume normal activities of living as much as possible are established by a physical therapist after a thorough evaluation. In-hospital and skilled units may involve the inclusion of other therapeutic disciplines (i.e. speech therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, etc.), depending on the patient's needs.

Geriatric Services

Geriatric physical therapy covers a wide area of issues concerning people as they go through normal adult aging, but is usually focused on the older adult.

There are many conditions that affect many people as they grow older and include but are not limited to: arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, hip and joint replacement balance disorders, incontinence and more.

Geriatric physical therapy helps those affected by such problems in developing a specialized program to help restore mobility, reduce pain, increase fitness levels and more.

Neurologic Deficits

Neurological physical therapy is a discipline focused on working with individuals who have a neurological disorder or disease. These include Alzheimer's disease, ALS, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and stroke.

Common problems of patients with neurological disorders include paralysis, vision impairment, poor balance, inability to ambulate and loss of functional independence. Therapists work with patients to improve these areas of dysfunction.

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