Athletic Physical Therapy

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Athletic Physical Therapy 

The road to recovery does not have to be long or incomplete. In fact, Athletic Physical Therapy is specifically designed to cure you, from the couch and return to your activities in the shortest possible time. What makes Athletic Physical Therapy unique is the combination of trained physical therapists with the best treatment methods available when using the latest exercise rehabilitation equipment.

Our carefully selected staff from dedicated professionals who are also eager to serve your care program to meet individual goals. You will receive evidence-based care from a physical therapist at each visit for continued exceptional care. As you progress through our exclusive Active Rehabilitation Continuum, we will ensure that you are 100% recovered from your injury so you can live actively and a healthy lifestyle free from pain or physical limitations.

Abstract

New graduates, or can be called licensed physical therapists with general orthopedic experience, are not eligible to provide side coverage at athletic events. Additional or advanced training in emergency care is very important to provide assistance in acute situations. Completion of the First Responder certification prepares individuals to react appropriately to emergencies on the sidelines, at the clinic, or in the community. The highest qualification that can be achieved by a physical therapist to ensure adequate preparation for Physical Therapy exercise is the appointment of ABPTS Sports Certified Specialist (SCS). This professional appointment shows that these individuals are highly qualified to care for athletes at any level, from the sidelines, through rehabilitation and return to play, regardless of injury, athlete's age, or skill level.

Preliminary

From a historical perspective, in almost 40 years of clinical practice with 36 years of those caring for injured athletes, I had the opportunity to educate hundreds of physical therapy students in clinical settings. The majority of these students came to our clinical site because of our involvement with high school sports and also the opportunity to provide coverage of events or side events. Many of these students have been involved previously with high school sports as a player, but we rarely get students with experience in acute injury or disease management. Exceptions to this example are students who have previous experience as athletic trainers, Emergency Medical Technicians, or registered nurses with Emergency Room experience.

In discussions with these students, I was amazed by the lack of basic emergency skills and knowledge in students' physical therapy and their ability to react appropriately in emergency situations. These students have a very good understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathomechanics, and basic knowledge needed to acquire the skills needed to provide prehospital care for injured or sick athletes. These students certainly do not lack the interest or willingness to learn and are also willing to provide the additional hours needed to prepare themselves to provide this service in future situations that require emergency care. 

These students and our clinical / Sports Physical Therapy staff recognize the need for further education in the field of pre-hospital care of injured athletes if we, as a profession, will continue to pursue this special field of Physical Sports Therapy. The problem extends beyond some physical therapy students and involves physical therapists who provide pre-hospital care without adequate education in emergency situation management. Then the decision whether or not to provide this service is made individually. Depending on the country where one practices, current state law cannot prohibit a physical therapist from providing side coverage on athletic events, while in some countries where PT practices depend on referrals, it may actually be illegal to treat an athlete. on the sidelines or in situations of acute injury. However, regardless of legality, physical therapists must be able to recognize their lack of ability to manage certain emergency situations and take steps to overcome this lack of knowledge.

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What is your problem?

The problem lies in physical therapists licensed to practice in each country who feel as if basic, beginner-level physical therapy education is enough to qualify them to provide side coverage. This physical therapist places himself in a very dangerous or precarious situation. But the risk lies in athletes; because every physical therapist is not sufficiently prepared to provide side coverage or offer pre-hospital care based solely on their physical therapy education.

Indeed, there are many situations where a physical therapist is needed to evaluate an injured athlete with the results of an evaluation as a result of a decision whether it is feasible or not to return the athlete to training, participation, or competition. Many physical therapists are quite capable of evaluating musculoskeletal-related injuries in terms of the "return to play" aspect that occurs in the clinic. This decision-making ability is complemented by basic education, knowledge of the mechanisms of injury, the ability to evaluate injuries, knowledge of sports and the physical demands of sports and the environment in which athletes return. If the decision of the physical therapist does not take into account all these aspects, the decision to return to play may be inaccurate and put the athlete at risk of further injury or injury again.

Conversely, inaccurate decisions about returning to playing on the sideline or in acute situations do not have a place in the world of Sports PT because they can be disastrous. A choice made in the field or about an athlete's return to the playing field can come alive or die decision.3.4 For example, the case of an athlete with a concussion, improper decisions to return the athlete to play can result in catastrophic injury or death. An athlete who is unconscious due to trauma and awakens without a clear neurological deficit may have an unstable neck collar due to a blow to the head.

The decision to return this player to a competition or practice without a comprehensive and accurate examination can have terrible results if the player receives another blow to the head or spine. An athlete who receives a blow to the stomach which also results in the splitting of the abdominal muscles resulting in pain in the left shoulder may have been injured in the spleen which could be a disaster if not managed properly. Many other emergency situations exist on the sidelines that require additional formal education and experience outside the physical therapist's basic education. Although accurate decisions have been made in the past by people involved with pre-hospital care of injured athletes, we, as Sports PT, have an obligation for our profession, we athletes, fans, coaches, and officials to minimize this error in health sports .

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EMERGENCY CONDITIONS: RESPONDER EMERGENCY CERTIFICATION

One method of improving preparation for athlete's prehospital care in emergent situations is through attendance at the Physical Medicine Sports Emergency Response course. This is an American Red Cross course designed specifically for physical therapists with an interest in Physical Sports Therapy and is one of the requirements for those who wish to take the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certification examination. After completion, participants received two years of certification from the American Red Cross as First Respondent.5 This course will help prepare you, as PT Sports, to provide side-care at athletic events and provide emergency care as needed until more advanced medical treatment arrives in Paramedics, and / or Emergency Medical Technicians. This course not only includes emergency care for traumatic injuries, but also CPR, use of AED, airway insertion, management of various types of acute illness, and other topics related to the pre-hospital care needed to provide appropriate care on the sidelines athletic event. 4 Another pathway to becoming a competent provider of emergency and pre-hospital care is participation in Sports Physical Therapy Residency.

Each Physical Therapy Residency Residency program requires completion of a Medical Emergency Response course before starting a residency program if the resident does not become an Emergency Medical Technician or Athletic Coach. The results of this residency program are certified as ABPTS Sports Certified Specialists. PT Sports must realize that in some cases they are the "most medical" people present at an event or competition. Therefore, injuries that arise during competitions or events will often need help and guidance from Sports PT. Sometimes, someone suffering from a disease can suddenly seek their care. Therefore, PT Sport must be equipped to deal with traumatic neuromusculoskeletal injuries5 as well as sudden illnesses experienced by players, coaches, officials, cheerleaders and fans. The process of caring for these people is a continuous "decision-making process" that involves immediate care, contacting local emergency medical services, packing and transporting athletes and severely injured individuals, and returning to playing decisions. As mentioned earlier, this decision cannot be taken lightly because, on certain occasions, the decision might save lives.

The role of PT Sports is prepared precisely beyond the field of athletics. We, as PT Sports, cannot ignore the needs of our community and their citizens. If we have the ability, skills, and knowledge to manage emergencies appropriately in our community, we must be able to apply these skills to help those in need. We cannot stop being PT Sports at the end of the day or at the end of the game. We must be vigilant in our respective environments and provide assistance to those who need emergency care whether it is in the athletic arena, in the workplace, or in the community where we live.

In conclusion, recent graduates, or licensed physical therapists with general orthopedic experience who are not eligible to provide side coverage at athletic events. Additional or advanced training in emergency care is very important to provide assistance in acute situations. Completion of the First Responder certification prepares individuals to react appropriately to emergencies on the sidelines, at the clinic, or in the community. The highest qualification that can be achieved by a physical therapist to ensure adequate preparation for Physical Therapy exercise is the appointment of ABPTS Sports Certified Specialist (SCS). This professional appointment shows that these individuals are highly qualified to care for athletes at any level, from the sidelines, to pre-hospital care through rehabilitation and return to playing as quickly and safely as possible regardless of injury, age of the athlete, or level of expertise.