Outpatient orthopedic physical therapy is used to rehabilitate injury. Though some injuries are caused by a major event, most occur over time through repeated micro-trauma. Physical therapists can reduce pain and increase function in patients by eliminating incorrect body mechanics that lead to musculoskeletal problems.
Meaning
Physical therapists in an outpatient orthopedic setting treat bone, muscle, tendon and cartilage injuries. The goal of treatment is to return the patient to normal function without pain. Sometimes a surgical intervention is required and physical therapy is used to reduce complications before surgery and rehabilitate the injury post-surgery.
Significance
Movement dysfunction accompanies all injuries. Movements repeatedly performed incorrectly can cause injury, such as lifting heavy objects with bad posture. Likewise, pain and deformity arising from an injury results in altered body mechanics, exacerbating the issue or causing discomfort elsewhere. Correct body mechanics are the cornerstone to preventing and treating injuries.
Benefits
Physical therapists understand the influence one area of the body can have over another. Rather than treating only the structures that are damaged, the physical therapist is able to take a holistic view of the body and determine underlying causes or attributing factors. The patient can make the necessary changes to improve the current injury while avoiding further complications. For example, a person with recurring knee pain may have muscle imbalances that lead to inflammation around the kneecap. In addition to reducing swelling and pain at the knee, a physical therapist can address the underlying muscle imbalances in order to prevent re-injury.
Considerations
Though proper body mechanics is crucial to overall physical health, it is the last in a series of rehabilitative steps. A physical therapist will address the patient's primary complaint, working to reduce pain and increase function. A total-body approach can be incorporated once the primary injury is tended to. Correcting improper body mechanics is time-consuming and is often considered a prevention technique, not a treatment. Therefore, it cannot always be taught in the time dedicated to treating the initial injury.
Expert Insight
Proper mechanics for some movements have been widely publicized, such as lifting heavy objects with the leg muscles instead of the back. As technology allows for an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, injuries abound due to de-conditioning. With practice, correcting bad movement habits will decrease injury risk and increase strength, stability and flexibility, ultimately improving a person's quality of life.
