Download Patient Assessment and Treatment

Phases of Treatment

The elements of physical function that
should be addressed in a therapeutic
exercise program are:
 Mobility
--flexibility
 Proprioception
 Muscular strength
--muscular
endurance
 muscular power
 Sport-specific function
--CV endurance
IMPRESS
Program for organizing a rehab program
 I-initial injury phase

 Primary goal is to control the amount of
inflammation
 Accomplished by preventing further
damage, reducing swelling, reducing pain,
and reducing edema (swelling caused by
fluid in your body’s tissues)
IMPRESS

M-mobility restoration
 Once inflammation is controlled (decrease in




swelling and pain), joint mobility can be restored
Done with therapeutic exercises that progress
from passive ROM to active-assistive ROM to
active ROM
Passive ROM-ATC move body segment
through ROM and athlete relaxes and produces
no muscle contractions
Active-assistive ROM-ATC and athlete move
body segment through ROM together
Active ROM-athlete moves body segment
through ROM without assistance
Proprioception
ability of body to give info to the brain
regarding the body’s position,
movements being performed and forces
acting on it
 Without proper proprioception, the body
may not get the right muscles to fire at
the right time to protect a joint
 Training can be done by doing such
things as balance and coordination
exercises

Resistance Training
Muscles will become stronger, but also
other surrounding tissues such as
ligaments and bone will become
stronger
 Becomes a significant phase in the
rehab process
 Can be done using free weights,
resistive tubing, machines, and manual
resistance

Endurance Phase
Not only do muscles need to be strong for
athletic participation, they also need to
have endurance (ability to perform
movements over time)
 CV exercises should be performed as early
as possible providing the injury is not
aggravated
 Weight training (for endurance) is done
using a low amount of weight for a high
number of reps

Sport-Specific Function
Athlete performs functional activities and
is slowly integrated back into practices
 ATC needs to be fully aware of the
requirements of the athlete’s sport:
movement patterns, degree of strength,
speed, power, and endurance
 Progress from light functional exercises
to heavy functional exercises and then
to limited practice

Therapeutic Modalities

Heating modalities-warm body tissue to
create a specific physiological response
that helps the healing process
 Moist-heat pack, whirlpool

Cooling modalities-cool injured tissue,
which constricts blood vessels, decreases
inflammation, decreases cell metabolism,
decreases pain, and also decreases
muscle spasm
 Ice pack, ice massage, whirlpool
Mechanical Elements

Ultrasound-sound wave passes through
tissue, heat is produced
 Affects deeper tissues

Traction-pulling force
 Deliberately attempting to separate the joints of
the body if they have been compressed

Massage-intentional and methodical
kneading and stroking of body’s soft
tissues
 Used to increase circulation, decrease muscle
spasm, and relieve swelling