Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By By Julie Myers-Buczynski, DPT
Life Care Center of Estero
Our physical therapists and our entire interdisciplinary team have a shared goal of exceeding our patient’s healthcare expectations. By implementing evidence based practices we can help improve mobility and motion, manage pain without long-term use of medications, and provide a conservative option to surgery, all to promote happier and healthier patients.
The Physical therapy team at Life Care Center of Estero (LCCE) recognizes and implements the use of evidence based practice as a central ingredient to providing quality care and patient satisfaction.
The use of standardized tests at start of care establishes the patient’s baseline and provides a measurable method to quantify change in the patients function.
Outcome measures, along with other standardized tests and measures are used at the beginning, end, and at reassessment periods throughout the patients care. Some examples of standardized tests are the BERG balance assessment, 6 minute walk test, Functional reach test, and the Timed up and go test. This provides information the therapist uses to assess patient progress towards goals and predicted outcomes.
Measuring outcomes of care within relevant components of function including body function, structure, patient activity and participation among patients with the same diagnosis, is the foundation for determining which therapeutic intervention approaches comprise best clinical practice. It is our goal to treat our patients with research supported best clinical practices.
Our physical therapists use standardized tests and measures to assess and treat patients with a variety of diagnosis including orthopedic, neurologic, cardiovascular impairments, as well as pain management, medically complex and wound care.
Improving Mobility and Motion:
Motion is essential to good quality of life. Whether it is an everyday task such as emptying the dishwasher, performing daily occupational tasks, or recreational sports activities, our physical therapy team can help promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent injury by improving strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
Managing Pain Effectively Without Long-term Use of Medication:
A physical therapist can help patients manage pain, often reducing the need for long-term use of medications. Studies reveal that individuals who receive physical therapy experience greater improvement in function with less pain. While recognizing that medication is an essential component in the management of many acute and chronic conditions, physical therapists can provide an alternative to the long-term use of medications for the management of pain and certain other health conditions.
Providing a Conservative Option to Surgery:
While surgery can be the best course of treatment for certain diagnoses, there is evidence to indicate that physical therapists can offer an alternative. Considering conservative options to surgery is a hallmark of good care, then physical therapy may be one of these options for many individuals.
When there is a need for surgery, our physical therapists can enhance our patient outcomes both before and after surgery. Here at Life Care Center of Estero we offer our Preferred Reserve Program where you can have a private room ready and waiting for you. Call Cris Flores in our admissions office @ 495-4001 for details. Additionally, for those individuals whose health conditions prevent surgery from being an option, physical therapists can be invaluable in helping them improve in function and quality of life.
Contact the rehabilitation department at
239-495-4046 so we can exceed your
healthcare expectations.
Source: WWW.APTA.ORG
239.495.4000 | 3850 Williams Rd. | Estero, FL 33928 | www.lifecarecenterofestero.com
