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Physical Therapy or Chiropractic, how do you choose?

If you are in pain from a recent injury or chronic condition, how do you decide which healthcare professional will get you the best results and help you manage your symptoms independently. Below are vision and mission statements of both the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Both professions tout: collaborating with other health care practitioners; promoting change in public policy and legislature, giving the most value per health dollars spent on care; and access equity for the consumer.

The APTA Vision Statement however distinguishes itself by establishing what will be the primary guiding system used to achieve results (The Movement System) and focusing on Consumer-centricity (Patient/client/consumer values and goals will be central to all efforts in which the physical therapy profession will engage). The ACA’s mission statement as read below would seem to be more concerned with protecting the chiropractic profession, changing legislature and promoting the growth of chiropractic care. There is little mention of what type of system will be used to achieve optimal outcomes or mention of how a patient’s specific goals will be incorporated into an individualized plan of care.

ACA’s Mission: The ACA is a professional organization representing Doctors of Chiropractic. Its mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote the chiropractic profession and the services of Doctors of Chiropractic for the benefit of patients they serve. The purpose of the ACA is to provide leadership in health care and a positive vision for the chiropractic profession and its natural approach to health and wellness. On behalf of the chiropractic profession, we accomplish our mission and purpose by affecting public policy and legislation, by promoting high standards in professional ethics and quality of treatment and by carrying out a dynamic strategic plan to help ensure the professional growth and success of Doctors of Chiropractic. (please go to www.acatoday.org for a complete statement).

Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession: Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. Guiding Principles to Achieve the Vision: the following principles are condensed (please go to www.apta.org/Vision/ for a complete statement).

Identity. The physical therapy profession will define and promote the movement system as the foundation for optimizing movement to improve the health of society. Quality. Collaboration. Value. Innovation. Consumer-centricity (as stated above). Access/Equity. Advocacy.

Lastly, in my over fourteen year experience as a physical therapist I believe the defining difference in ‘Chiro’ and ‘PT’ is that physical therapist from day one of treatment give our patients self-management tools to assist in treating their own symptoms/pain to include extensive home exercise programs. Our primary goal as physical therapist is to assist a patient in restoring, maintaining and enhancing their own health.

For more information or education on physical therapy and rehabilitation please contact:

Greg Sterner, Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy, Owner

San Diego Sports Physical Therapy

2750 Dewey Rd. Ste 101

San Diego, CA 92106

PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY ACTIVITIES

Has your child experienced an injuries recently? Pediatric Physical therapy may be a good option for you and your child! Stephanie Romo from Livestrong shares how physical therapy is beneficial.

Physical therapy may help pediatric patients gain functional independence.

Pediatric physical therapy can be beneficial for children with injuries or other physical limitations. This type of therapy encourages children to engage in play and activities of daily living to promote balance, coordination, and fine and gross motor skills. The goal of these therapeutic activities is to encourage improvement in development and greater functional independence. Want to improve your health? Learn more about LIVESTRONG.COM’s nutrition and fitness program!

DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES
One important goal of pediatric physical therapy is to improve development, and there are a number of activities that encourage developmental milestones to occur. Children typically learn best through playing, and many pediatric physical therapists recommend therapeutic activities that involve play. Activities such as crawling, walking, skipping, running, and utilizing playground equipment are all examples of therapeutic activities involving play. These types of activities help to encourage children to coordinate the use of large muscle groups to move about independently.

BALANCE AND COORDINATION
Balance and coordination are two important components of physical independence that can be improved through physical therapy. Hand-eye coordination is something that children can learn by playing catch, rolling a ball or drawing a picture. For babies and young toddlers, learning to feed themselves with utensils is a great way to encourage hand-eye coordination. Balance can be improved through activities that involve the vestibular system, such as walking on a balance beam or learning to ride a bicycle.
FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills involve the usage of small muscles, particularly those in the hands, fingers, feet and toes. Activities that encourage these types of skills include sorting small objects, painting and molding clay. Gross motor skills include activities that encourage larger muscle groups, such as swimming, riding a bike and jumping on a trampoline. Range of motion is an important part of gross motor development, and pediatric physical therapy will usually include stretches to encourage joint and muscle mobility.
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
When your child is participating in a physical therapy program, most of the activities and learning take place in the child’s natural environment, such as home or school. Encouraging your child to participate in normal daily activities can help her reach milestones, improve self-esteem and gain independence. Try involving your child in meal preparation, ask for her help with cleaning the house and let her assist at the grocery store. Each of these tasks involves physical and cognitive elements, which will help children improve both functional and mental ability.

REFERENCES
American Physical Therapy Association: The ABCs of Pediatric Physical Therapy
Article reviewed by Matt Olberding Last updated on: Sep 2, 2011

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/532184-pediatric-physical-therapy-activities/#ixzz2g6z1APKA

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Physical Therapy or Chiropractic, how do you choose?

PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY ACTIVITIES

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