Author: John Callen

Up to 200 patients take part in sessions at each physical therapy clinics every week. Physical therapists are found in private outpatient clinics and hospitals, nursing care facilities, and as part of home health care services.

To an athlete, physical therapy is often vital for getting back into the game or to take training to the next level. To the average person with a chronic medical condition or recovering from a medical mishap, physical therapy means less downtime and getting back to normal quickly —sometimes feeling even better than before.

In recent decades, John R. Callen of MedRehab Alliance reports that physical therapy has evolved to become a scientific and essential part of both general rehabilitation and improved sports performance. Here’s why.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an approach to treating a range of medical injuries through rebuilding movement and strength, as well as managing pain, with the overall goal of short-term recovery and prevention of further damage in the long term.

This is primarily done through a wide variety of approaches depending on the injury, patient, unique medical conditions, and training or specialty of the physical therapist. Commonly, physical therapy involves progressive and targeted forms of stretches and exercises over a set amount of time.

Many participate in physical therapy weekly or biweekly for at least a month or two. For others, especially amateur, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, physical therapy is a regular part of their training or gym schedule.

Rehabilitation Goals

While physical therapy can have a simple focus on maintaining proper fitness and improving general health, the majority of physical therapy is centered on recovery from injury, both for athletes and for the average patient.

Injuries are a common part of sports that can negatively impact the longevity of athletic careers when they are not treated professionally.

For non-athletes who experience injuries such as broken bones or back inflammation, a general practice doctor or emergency room physician may refer patients to physical therapy as a stand-alone form of medical rehabilitation or a treatment to be combined with other methods, such as medication.

Sports rehabilitation addresses range of motion and body movements, usually in the form of exercises tailored to different parts of the body and fine-tuning the way an athlete’s body needs to move. This can include guided stretches, treadmill walking, weight-lifting, or stationary cycling.

Physical Therapy and Performance

Physical therapists also specialize in the enhancement of athletic performance when the basic, functional benefit of therapy is a secondary concern.

Often, performance enhancement techniques begin with rehabilitation. After an injury is treated, physical therapists may continue working to instill pain management techniques in patients for improving performance and preventing re-injury.

One’s range of motion can be revitalized as well as improved through physical therapy. While the main goal is to restore mobility, athletes and others undergoing therapy can also increase their agility.

If clients are happy with their physical therapy sessions, many decide to make ongoing support a priority in order to reach new levels of performance or shoot for a specific athletic goal. Therapists can then dig deeper into performance enhancement techniques and biomechanics guidance.

When athletes are looking for a comprehensive route to long-term excellence in their sport, physical therapists are certainly capable of helping with every step of the journey.

Aging doesn’t have to be what it once was.

In the past, getting older was predictable — an increased reliance on others for care, a stalled metabolism and diminishing senses, and a decline in physical strength and cognition.

But John R. Callen of MedRehab Alliance explains that this is no longer always the truth. Thanks to improvements in technology, better information about proper nutrition and health risks, and advanced medical care, people are now living longer than ever before — and living well.

Occupational therapy for older adults is a big reason for their improved well-being and greater independence, as more Americans hope to be able to stay in their own homes as they age.

OT Senior Care

Occupational therapy encompasses a wide range of treatment approaches, whether it’s for recovery following a medical emergency or injury or as a method of treating a chronic condition. It can be used to help treat all ages, but is particularly valuable for helping older people to live on their own terms.

Occupational therapists primarily promote well-being by making everyday activities easier for older adults, whether that involves working full-time, volunteering, or tackling chores.

Since the population of adults 65 and older in America is estimated to reach 95 million by 2060 — about a quarter of the country’s entire population — occupational therapists are in high demand to help with not just health care needs, but to provide social services as well.

Types of OT Modalities

While occupational therapy is commonly tied to physical needs — recovering from surgery, learning to walk effectively again — it’s not quite the same as physical therapy.

For older adults, occupational therapists are often needed to help with making lifestyle modifications to better manage living alone at home or improving well-being while experiencing a chronic medical condition, such as hypertension or arthritis.

Occupational therapy focuses on cognitive, physical, or physiological challenges. In physical therapy, those who are recovering from a broken bone will work on targeted movements or exercises to heal better and faster. Occupational therapy, on the other hand, often includes physical treatments while also addressing psychological or social barriers.

Daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating are improved through integrating therapeutic techniques such as exercise or education. Occupational therapists may study a home and determine modifications that must be made to make daily life easier, such as having a walk-in shower or a medical alert system.

Memory loss may also be addressed, and vision loss may be tackled through techniques such as color-coded medication, better lighting, or large-print newspapers and books.

Biggest Benefits

• Greater Independence

Sustained occupational therapy helps prevent otherwise common occurrences for these older adults, such as falling, while easing the chronic pain associated with their daily activities. It also becomes easier for them to drive a car and clean their homes.

• Encouraging Self-Care

The real work of an occupational therapist happens as soon as the patient leaves a therapy session. After barriers are assessed and addressed, older adults feel more confident with integrating self-care into their daily routine because it can be done with less pain. This includes cooking, grooming, and managing their own medical needs.

• Diminished Health Risks

One older American will dies as a result of a fall once every 19 minutes. With occupational therapy techniques, that risk becomes drastically diminished. For those experiencing serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, occupational therapy can help prevent injury and other issues associated with such diseases.

Traditional rehabilitation programs generally focus on only one form of therapy, but taking a holistic approach to neurological conditions is far more effective. The disciplines of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are interconnected and mutually supportive. Complementing speech therapy with both physical therapy and occupational therapy during rehabilitation for neurological conditions helps individuals progress much faster while producing better outcomes.

Below, John R. Callen of Joint & Neuro Rehab Associates discusses the benefits of integrated rehabilitation and comprehensive care in more detail.

Benefits of Integrated Rehabilitation

Whether an individual has suffered a traumatic brain event like a stroke, was born with a pre-existing condition, or developed a brain abnormality later in life, integrated rehabilitation can be a far more effective approach to treatment than individualized therapies. For any condition that affects speech and/or mobility, the combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapies is highly beneficial.

Faster Progress

The reason an individual would seek out a speech therapist is often the result of physical damage such as head trauma or a stroke. Individuals that experience aphasia (difficulty understanding or forming words) after these events typically also suffer from mobility setbacks.

Since communication is reliant on both verbal and physical control, it makes sense that physical therapy and speech therapy together can help people achieve progress at a faster rate.

During this time, occupational therapy will help individuals adjust to their new way of life (whether it is temporary or permanent), target unique areas for learning such as perception and cognition, and provide new motivations for putting effort into the other areas. This will encourage people to take control of their rehab in order to see results more quickly.

Better Outcomes

The effect of integrating different therapy disciplines into an individual’s treatment plan can be compared to the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is undeniable that on their own, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy are all capable of producing positive effects for an individual.

However, making progress in one area of therapy can simultaneously improve progress in other areas, and this stacking effect produces a greater final result than what would be achieved with focusing on a single discipline during the rehabilitation process.

For example, any individual who has experienced a stroke may need physical therapy to regain some motor functions. However, if they are also participating in occupational therapy, they can learn new ways to communicate that would be supplemented by the expertise of a speech therapist.

In order to provide truly comprehensive care to those having trouble with speech and/or mobility, all three therapy disciplines (speech, physical, and occupational) must be used together. This is the only way to ensure that every individual ends up with the greatest possible result.

Final Thoughts

All in all, a holistic and multi-discipline approach to rehabilitation offers unique advantages over traditional single-therapy treatment plans. In order to fully support an individual’s communicative, functional, and physical needs as they develop or recover, an integrated approach to therapy is a must.

Physical therapy is an integral component of post-acute care, helping to restore function, reduce pain, and prevent future injuries. Traditional methods require in-person visits, which may be difficult for those with limited mobility, those who live in rural areas and those with a lack transportation options. But thanks to advances in telehealth and virtual rehabilitation technologies, John R. Callen of Joint & Neuro Rehab Associates explains that patients now have access to cutting-edge methods of physical therapy that could revolutionize this field forever.

Physical Therapy Through Telehealth

Telehealth is the use of electronic communication technologies to deliver healthcare remotely. In physical therapy, this may include video conferencing, telephone consultations, or messaging apps that enable patients to stay in contact with their therapists and receive guidance, support, and feedback on exercises and progress.

According to McKinsey & Company, utilization of telehealth services peaked at 78 times pre-COVID levels in April 2020 and has since stabilized at about 38 times pre-COVID levels. This has not only provided patients with a convenient and secure option during their crisis but also proven cost-effective: patients save on transportation fees, and the Duke Clinical Research Institute found that healthcare providers saved over $2,700 per patient through physical therapy via telehealth, compared with in-person visits.

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy

Virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation is the use of interactive computer programs and devices that create realistic environments, activities, and movements to aid functional recovery and develop motor skills. VR can be utilized in a variety of settings, such as clinics, hospitals, or patients’ homes, to target different aspects of physical therapy, like balance, coordination, strength, or cognition.

Research has demonstrated the efficacy of VR therapy. A study published in NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation demonstrated that stroke patients who received VR training along with traditional physical therapy experienced greater improvements in arm function compared to those receiving only traditional physical therapy. A meta-analysis of studies on VR rehabilitation for adults with Parkinson’s disease found that VR training resulted in greater improvements in step and stride length, balance, and mobility than conventional rehabilitation training.

Telehealth and VR is Transforming Healthcare

Telehealth and VR have had a profound effect on healthcare. Patients now have more options for receiving care, leading to improved patient outcomes. Furthermore, being able to receive care from home has reduced the burden on healthcare facilities, freeing up resources for other patients who require in-person attention.

According to a study published in the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, the proportion of physical therapists who used telehealth services grew from under 5% before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to 50% one year later. This has been beneficial not only for patients but also for healthcare providers. According to another study published in the Annals of Medicine, the implementation of telehealth services led to 13% fewer missed appointments, particularly among patients with chronic illnesses or numerous doctor appointments.

Conclusion

Telehealth and VR rehabilitation are cutting-edge methods of physical therapy that have the potential to transform this field. The adoption of telehealth and VR technology has resulted in improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs and was especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. As technological progress continues to accelerate, these advances will continue to benefit physical therapy services around the world.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been nothing short of transformative explains John R. Callen of MedRehab Alliance.

It redefines multifunctionality. Around thew world and across sectors, from business and politics to the military, powerful AI analyzes data with record speed to inform decisionmakers from all walks of life.

Machine learning and other AI forms help businesses become more profitable and scientific research speedier and more effective.

It has helped make driving safer and can help financial institutions quickly detect fraud. Within the American military, AI can be used to mine through vital data gathered by surveillance and inform missions.

AI has perhaps some of the most promising applications within healthcare; it has the power to fundamentally change how people are given care and how we identify and prevent conditions for decades to come.

With AI, the healthcare system as we know it is rapidly changing for the better.

The AI Revolution

Just five years ago, many people hadn’t heard of AI — and that includes doctors and researchers within healthcare.

Today, some form of AI is used by the majority of healthcare institutions, from hospitals and research labs to higher institutions training the next generation of healthcare workers.

Consider this: In 2021, the value of the global AI healthcare marketplace was $10.4 billion, up from $2.4 billion in 2019. Estimates place the value of the market at over $31 billion by 2025.

AI overall has seen arguably the most growth in investment and application within healthcare. It is leading a powerful change in the industry.

This can be seen in the parallel rise of predictive care that can only be accomplished seamlessly and effectively with AI.

By 2030, AI is predicted to guide healthcare systems in such a way that predicts when patients will develop certain conditions, including major diseases, and even offer effective treatments early before some diseases become serious.

This predictive power has been seen in the ways AI has helped shed new light on everything from congestive heart failure to diabetes and breast cancer. By uncovering so-called social determinants of health, some diseases are in decline worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Growing Number of Applications

AI doesn’t just have the power to predict certain diseases and organize data. It’s growth within healthcare has been seen in innumerable ways, including:

Improved Patient Experience

Analytic programs can dictate when doctors should remind patients about taking medications, checking their blood pressure, and when they are due for new appointments. Platforms powered by AI could improve the way patients and healthcare groups communicate, especially through live chats.

Sharper Diagnosis

Through AI, doctors can better analyze such medical tools as MRIs and X-rays, leading to better identification of diseases and more effective treatment plans. Algorithms powered by AI are already detecting cancer signs in mammograms with top accuracy.

More Personalized Care

At the University of Pennsylvania, doctors have used AI to pinpoint specific health risks within different populations, especially the elderly and people of color. These doctors have found that such AI technology may predict sepsis a full 12 hours before patients display symptoms.