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Why Physical Therapists are the Neuro-muscular Experts

9/25/2015

2 Comments

 
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The standard doctorate of physical therapy program is 3 years with a majority of classes oriented toward Orthopedic and Neuromuscular (NM) pathologies. These courses focus in depth on pathophysiology of NM conditions, diagnosis, and treatment. Even the courses focusing on cardiovascular rehabilitation or pediatric care have strong connections back to the neuromuscular system. All of these classes have the common goal of making us experts in the human movement system. 

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How does Our Education compare to Our Medical Counterparts?
Largely, education in neuro-musculoskeletal medicine has shown to be inadequate in medical school curricula. Almost half of the American medical schools do not require any formal clinical or basic NM-skeletal courses prior to graduation. Additionally, <3% of all curricular hours in the typical Candadian medical school are devoted to NM-skeletal education. Think about these statistics for a minute! Our referral sources have very little, if not zero, education in our field of specialization. To make the PT case stronger, Childs et al published a study in 2005 that suggests Physical Therapists do not suffer from a lack of knowledge or diagnostic skill. The study found that Orthopedic Physicians (surgeons) had the highest level of competency regarding neuromuscular conditions. Physical Therapists with an OCS or SCS were the second most knowledgeable, following by Physical Therapists without a specialization. In fact, DPT students ranked above family practice physicians and physicians from many other specialties in regards to NM competency.

What Does this Mean for Physical Therapists?
Physical therapists are some of the most competent healthcare practitioners in regards to diagnosing and treatment neuro-muscular conditions. The American medical system does not properly train physicians to treat these conditions. PT's need to be present to assist in diagnosis, plan of care, and prognosis for these individuals. Secondly, we need to do a better job educating our referral sources on what we do and why we do it. Most physicians do their residency training in a hospital setting. Their picture of physical therapy is confined to their experiences. Many physicians do not know the vast capabilities of our treatments. This is our opportunity to educate.  
​
​-Jim

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2 Comments
Jordan link
9/28/2015 09:20:19 am

Interesting points here! Physical therapists definitely have to deal with neuro-muscular problems every day with their patients. Thanks for sharing this!

Reply
Melissa
9/30/2015 10:45:33 am

Where can a PT go to find more information about NM control? I am currently finishing my first year in school. Is this something that will be covered when learning concepts such as PNF or is there continuing ed that will help me develop this skill once I graduate?

Reply



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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Insider Access
    • About Insider Access
  • Online Courses
    • Hooper's Knee
    • Physical Therapist Entrepreneur Course
    • Physical Therapist Consultant Course
    • Orthopedic Management of the Cervical Spine
    • Return to Sport Essentials Course
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Business Minded Sports Physio Podcast
    • Day in the Life of a Sports PT
    • Residency Corner
    • Special Tests >
      • Cervical Spine >
        • Alar Ligament Test
        • Bakody's Sign
        • Cervical Distraction Test
        • Cervical Rotation Lateral Flexion Test
        • Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)
        • Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
        • Posterior-Anterior Segmental Mobility
        • Segmental Mobility
        • Sharp-Purser Test
        • Spurling's Maneuver
        • Transverse Ligament Test
        • ULNT - Median
        • ULNT - Radial
        • ULNT - Ulnar
        • Vertebral Artery Test
      • Thoracic Spine >
        • Adam's Forward Bend Test
        • Passive Neck Flexion Test
        • Thoracic Compression Test
        • Thoracic Distraction Test
        • Thoracic Foraminal Closure Test
      • Lumbar Spine/Sacroiliac Joint >
        • Active Sit-Up Test
        • Alternate Gillet Test
        • Crossed Straight Leg Raise Test
        • Extensor Endurance Test
        • FABER Test
        • Fortin's Sign
        • Gaenslen Test
        • Gillet Test
        • Gower's Sign
        • Lumbar Quadrant Test
        • POSH Test
        • Posteroanterior Mobility
        • Prone Knee Bend Test
        • Prone Instability Test
        • Resisted Abduction Test
        • Sacral Clearing Test
        • Seated Forward Flexion Test
        • SIJ Compression/Distraction Test
        • Slump Test
        • Sphinx Test
        • Spine Rotators & Multifidus Test
        • Squish Test
        • Standing Forward Flexion Test
        • Straight Leg Raise Test
        • Supine to Long Sit Test
      • Shoulder >
        • Active Compression Test
        • Anterior Apprehension
        • Biceps Load Test II
        • Drop Arm Sign
        • External Rotation Lag Sign
        • Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Sign
        • Horizontal Adduction Test
        • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
        • Jobe Test
        • Ludington's Test
        • Neer Test
        • Painful Arc Sign
        • Pronated Load Test
        • Resisted Supination External Rotation Test
        • Speed's Test
        • Posterior Apprehension
        • Sulcus Sign
        • Thoracic Outlet Tests >
          • Adson's Test
          • Costoclavicular Brace
          • Hyperabduction Test
          • Roos (EAST)
        • Yergason's Test
      • Elbow >
        • Biceps Squeeze Test
        • Chair Sign
        • Cozen's Test
        • Elbow Extension Test
        • Medial Epicondylalgia Test
        • Mill's Test
        • Moving Valgus Stress Test
        • Push-up Sign
        • Ulnar Nerve Compression Test
        • Valgus Stress Test
        • Varus Stress Test
      • Wrist/Hand >
        • Allen's Test
        • Carpal Compression Test
        • Finkelstein Test
        • Phalen's Test
        • Reverse Phalen's Test
      • Hip >
        • Craig's Test
        • Dial Test
        • FABER Test
        • FAIR Test
        • Fitzgerald's Test
        • Hip Quadrant Test
        • Hop Test
        • Labral Anterior Impingement Test
        • Labral Posterior Impingement Test
        • Long-Axis Femoral Distraction Test
        • Noble Compression Test
        • Percussion Test
        • Sign of the Buttock
        • Trendelenburg Test
      • Knee >
        • Anterior Drawer Test
        • Dial Test (Tibial Rotation Test)
        • Joint Line Tenderness
        • Lachman Test
        • McMurray Test
        • Noble Compression Test
        • Pivot-Shift Test
        • Posterior Drawer Test
        • Posterior Sag Sign
        • Quad Active Test
        • Thessaly Test
        • Valgus Stress Test
        • Varus Stress Test
      • Foot/Ankle >
        • Anterior Drawer
        • Calf Squeeze Test
        • External Rotation Test
        • Fracture Screening Tests
        • Impingement Sign
        • Navicular Drop Test
        • Squeeze Test
        • Talar Tilt
        • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Test
        • Test for Interdigital Neuroma
        • Windlass Test