Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 54 Physical therapy and rehabilitation

CHAPTER

54
Physical Therapy
and Rehabilitation
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54-2

Learning Outcomes
54.1 Discuss the general principles of physical
therapy.
54.2 Relate various cold and heat therapies to
their benefits and contraindications.
54.3 Recall hydrotherapy methods.
54.4 Name several methods of exercise therapy.

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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.


54-3

Learning Outcomes
54.5 Describe the types of massage used in
rehabilitation therapy.
54.6 Compare different methods of traction.
54.7 Carry out the procedure for teaching a
patient to use a cane, a walker, crutches,

a wheelchair.

and

54.8 Model the steps you should take when
referring a patient to a physical therapist.
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54-4

Introduction
• Medical assistant
– Apply cold and heat
– Assist with ambulation
– Teach basic exercises
– Demonstrate how to use a cane, walker,
crutches, or wheelchair
– Discuss with the patient specific therapies for
home use
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54-5

General Principles of Physical Therapy
• Physical therapy
– Medical specialty treating

• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Nervous disorders
• Cardiopulmonary disorders

– Treatments
– Patient benefits
– Disorders
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54-6

Assisting Within a Therapeutic Team
• Therapeutic team members
• Medical assistant
– Coordinate the patient’s schedule
– Make referrals
– Document treatments and findings
– Reinforce instructions for the patient
– Answer the patient’s questions
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54-7

Assisting with Patient Assessment
• Joint mobility testing
– Range of motion (ROM) – degree to which

a joint is able to move
– Goniometer
– Degree of movement
compared to a standard

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54-8

Assisting with Patient Assessment (cont.)
• Muscle strength testing
– Determines the amount of force exerted
exert with a group of muscles
– Compare each side of body

• Gait testing –
assessment of how
a patient walks

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54-9

Assisting with Patient Assessment (cont.)
• Posture testing
– Body position and alignment

– Checks spinal curves
– Symmetry of alignment

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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.


54-10

Apply Your Knowledge
Match description with assessment type:

ANSWER:

___
D How a person walks

A. Joint mobility

A Range of motion
___

B. Muscle strength

C Body position and alignment
___

C. Posture

B Force exerted with a group of muscles D. Gait

___
A Goniometer
___
C Check spinal curves
___
D Length of stride
___

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54-11

Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy
• Cryotherapy

• Thermotherapy

– Applying cold for
therapeutic
reasons

– Applying heat for
therapeutic
reasons

– Types

– Types

• Wet or dry

• Dry

• Chemical or natural

• Moist

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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.


54-12

Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy (cont.)
• Factors affecting use
– Therapy's purpose
– Location and condition of affected area
– Patient’s age and general health

• Monitor patient for signs of tissue damage
• Be aware of
contraindications
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54-13

Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy (cont.)
• Treatment location
• Circulation or sensation impairment
• Temperature tolerance
• Elderly’s sensitivity to cold and heat

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54-14

Principles of Cryotherapy
• Constricts blood vessels
• Physiologic responses to cold
– Prevents swelling

– Anesthetic effect

– Controls bleeding

– Reduces pus
formation

– Reduces
inflammation

– Lowers body
temperature

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54-15

Administering Cryotherapy
• Dry cold applications
– Ice bags and collars
– Chemical ice packs

• Wet cold applications
– Cold compresses
– Ice massage
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54-16

Principles of Thermotherapy
• Dilates blood vessels – erythema
• Physiologic responses to heat
– Relieves pain and congestion
– Reduces muscle spasms
– Relaxes muscles
– Reduces inflammation and
swelling
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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

54-17

Administering Thermotherapy
• Dry heat therapies
– Chemical hot
packs
– Heating pad

– Hot-water bottle
– Heat lamp
– Fluidotherapy

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54-18

Administering Thermotherapy (cont.)
• Moist heat applications
– Hot soak

– Paraffin bath

– Hot compress

– Alternating hot
and cold packs

– Hot pack

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54-19

Administering Thermotherapy (cont.)
• Diathermy
– High-frequency wave achieves deep heat
penetration
– Types
• Ultrasound
• Shortwave
• Microwave

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54-20

Apply Your Knowledge
What is the main difference in the effect of
cryotherapy and thermotherapy that results in the
physiologic response of each?
ANSWER: Cryotherapy causes blood vessels to
constrict, resulting in its physiologic effects, while

thermotherapy causes blood vessels to dilate.

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54-21

Hydrotherapy
• Use of water to treat physical
problems
• Whirlpools
– Water is agitated by jets of air under pressure
– Generates hydromassage
• Relaxes muscles
• Increases circulation

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54-22

Hydrotherapy (cont.)
• Contrast baths

– 2 baths, one hot
and one cold
– Affected area is
quickly moved

from one to the
other

• Underwater
exercises
– Warm swimming
pool
– Buoyancy takes
pressure off joints

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54-23

Apply Your Knowledge
What are the main effects of hydrotherapy?

ANSWER: Hydrotherapy relaxes muscles,
increases circulation, and improves
flexibility and mobility.

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54-24

Exercise Therapy

• Preventive and therapeutic benefits
– Flexibility
– Mobility
– Muscle tone
– Strength

• Primary treatment for some
disorders and sports injuries
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54-25

Exercise Therapy (cont.)
• Exercise benefits include
– Improve muscle tone and strength
– Regain or maintain ROM
– Promotes neuromuscular coordination
– Helps patients to resume normal activities of
daily living

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in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.