Physical therapy can treat a broad spectrum of conditions and symptoms, according to Northeastern Health System Director of Therapy Services Sharon Cox.
“Our goal is to restore health and function to those who have lost it,” Cox said. “We are trying to improve people’s quality of life.”
Cox said some of the ailments physical therapy can address are strokes, vestibular issues, pain, and even urinary incontinence. She said many are surprised to learn physical therapy can help with bladder issues.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that causes patients to have tremors, stiffness, and have a more difficult time maintaining their balance. While there is no cure, Cox said that with physical therapy, patients can slow the progression of the disease.
“We do a lot of vestibular treatment,” Cox said. “If someone experiences dizziness, they might take a daily pill, and many patients do not know that is something we can correct.”
Those who enter physical therapy will often have specific exercises to do as part of their treatment, which may be adjusted or changed based on how well a patient responds to them.
“No matter what is causing it, we treat what we can see is wrong with the patient,” Cox said. “Exercises are specific to the deficit of the patient.”
Cox said many patients do not know what to do when they begin to experience pain, but said patients don’t need a referral from their doctor to see a physical therapist.
“Oklahoma is a direct access state, so patients can come on in. They don’t need a doctor’s order,” Cox said.
After an initial evaluation with a physical therapist, if the provider believes physical therapy would be beneficial, they work with the patient’s physician to get an order for physical therapy.
For all patients, Cox said, they try to teach them the skills to be independent whatever their current needs may be, including inpatient care.
According to Cox, NHS conducted a study about patient discharge rates roughly 18 months ago. Patients in the Acute Care ward were only being discharged directly to home about 50% of the time. After learning this, they implemented a collaborative effort between nursing staff and physical therapists to make sure patients were leaving their rooms and moving throughout the day.
After these efforts, the study showed 30% more patients were being discharged to go home. Prior to this, many patients most discharged patients were transferring care to another type of care facility.
Cox has been a physical therapist for 33 years, and said she enjoys seeing the progress her patients make.
“I love what I do,” Cox said.
Many physical therapy exercises can be done at home, and according to the American Physical Therapy Association, some can help elderly individuals prevent falls. These exercises include: heel to toe walking; practicing getting out of a chair without using one’s arms, and gently lowering oneself back into the seat; and side-stepping while facing a wall or countertop for balance.
Three million older adults are treated in the emergency room for fall injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average health care cost per fall is $35,000.
Another physical therapy office, Redbud Physical Therapy is overseen by practitioner Beverly Hasson.
Hasson said physical therapy is many things, and is practiced in many places. Some physical therapists do home health visits, and some practice physical therapy in schools with students. At her office, Hasson said, they handle mostly musculoskeletal and orthopedic needs. Hasson said that in the physical therapy world, physical therapists like her are “movement specialists.”
“Physical therapy is big, in its scope,” Hasson said.
Hasson said there are physical therapists who specialize in cardiac or pulmonary therapies, and that therapists care for patients of any age, from birth to those over 100 years old.
“Exercise is a big part of what we do,” Hasson said.
Her practice uses treadmills, yoga balls, resistance bands, trampolines and other tools to treat patients.
One patient, Kay Taylor, said that since she began physical therapy, her symptoms have improved. Taylor experiences difficulty standing up straight, and when she originally came to the practice, she could only stand or walk while bent at the waist. Since then, she has been able to stand up straighter.
She said her treatment has significantly improved her quality of life.
“I got teary-eyed after my first visit,” Taylor said. “Since I’ve come here, I’ve gotten better, definitely.”
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