What is PT used for? 

• Accidents and sports injuries are the first areas that come to mind. However, where physical therapy can really shine is in preventative treatments for things like falls and low back pain. Did you know that low back pain causes almost as many work absences as the common cold? 

• Management of chronic disease is also an area where physical therapy can add value. Diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's can all be managed through regular movement and exercise. Keeping people moving is key to keeping them from getting worse. 

•  Recovery from injuries like a spinal cord injury or stroke as well as diseases like heart disease and cancer all need physical therapy to help regain quality of life. The first two are obvious. Healthcare professionals are just starting to realize the toll that cancer treatments take, and are prescribing physical therapy as part of a recovery program. Often people are so weakened that they need help to get muscles back to where they were.

People who have been helped by physical therapy understand the value. The challenge seems to be not enough people know about the possibilities. Direct access, which enables people to see a physical therapist without a healthcare provider's 'prescription' may help this tremendously. However, in order for people and their providers to see the benefits of direct access, there needs to be more awareness of when it could help.  

We talk a lot in healthcare about 'value,' but the value of a health care service is more than its proven cost-effectiveness. Quality of life, access, and continuity of care and integration of services are equally important criteria when looking at the broader concept of value.  Considering all these, physical therapy may be one of the best 'values' in health care!  

If you need help figuring out the healthcare system, give Guardian Nurses a call!  Maybe we'll even share some of our PT exercises with you!