Practices at Inspira Physical Therapy
1. Why is comprehensive care important when treating a Physical Therapy patient?
Each patient has an individual story. Our bodies are a reflection of our lifestyle, emotions, trauma, and life trajectory. It is important to recognize that the many factors influencing each story will also impact a person’s recovery process despite having a similar diagnosis as a counterpart. One size does not fit all and in using our judgment to address influencing factors and refer out when necessary, we are more likely to improve the outcome long term. Because each patient has a unique experience, it is imperative to have a comprehensive approach for long-term physical and emotional rehabilitation.
2. What about the inclusion of holistic treatments such as craniosacral therapy?
Physical Therapists have many tools to choose from including Craniosacral Therapy. Prescription of exercises and manual therapy is personalized based on a patient’s impairment, health history, and tolerance to treatment. It is why treatments such as Craniosacral Therapy are beneficial because it is one of the least invasive therapies a practitioner can choose. By contrast, there are patients who may require more forceful treatment methods such as manipulations or myofascial release. Having a variety of methodologies at our disposal is helpful to provide individualized care.
3. How does focusing on the main injury alone impede full recovery from injury?
Our bodies are interwoven with fascial tissue that connects our most distal to proximal body parts, and deep to superficial layers. This fascial highway relates movements from one area to another and creates fluidity in our movements. When we have an injury, there is a blockage in this dynamic system. Our bodies start to incorporate new movement patterns to compensate for deficiencies in our musculoskeletal system. One’s experience of pain is not always the source of the problem. It is through holistic evaluations that we can unravel the interconnectedness of the dynamic body and restore it to its balanced state. If the source of the problem is bypassed, the injury is likely to reoccur.
4. Why do you include mindfulness in your treatments?
Our mental state is a major contributor to health and well-being. It can be the source of muscle tension, disrupted breath, and postural dysfunction. By bringing mindfulness to our treatment sessions we can improve our ability to heal and fully recover. This incorporates the use of breath, relaxation techniques, and body awareness.
5. Why are 1:1 guided Physical Therapy treatment sessions the most effective for rehabilitation?
The Physical Therapist creates a plan of care for a patient that is followed from evaluation to discharge. 1:1 sessions allow for adaptations and corrections to be made on an ongoing basis to improve optimal recovery. It also allows the Physical Therapist to use whichever tools they feel are appropriate for that patient’s session without time constraints or the use of supportive staff.
6. Any other last words/recommendations about the benefits of comprehensive care?
Physical Therapy is an intimate form of medicine administered through hands-on treatment that fosters strong personal connections between practitioners and patients. Treatment plans are individualized for each patient’s story. Choosing a practitioner who is mindful of the interaction of physical systems, emotional well-being, lifestyle, and previous health is imperative to obtaining a full and sustained recovery.
7. Any research articles that reference the benefits of comprehensive care?
Effects of Brief Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes: a Systematic Review
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-019-01163-1