Happy 2023! Have you thought about having an annual physical therapy exam? We may be biased, but we think you should!
It is common to see an optometrist, dentist, and physician annually to check in on your eyes, teeth, and overall health, but what about the rest of your body? What do you do yearly to check in on your range of motion, strength, balance, and coordination? These are all important aspects that impact how you move. You might not notice small changes to these abilities until you experience difficulties; however, an annual physical therapy exam can catch problems early and help you manage them before they lead to bigger problems.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Annual physical therapy exams are quick and easy. Your annual visit may include:
- A review of your health history and any injuries
- Assessment of your strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, etc.
- A review of your movement goals (e.g., Do you want to run a marathon? Do you want to get on and off the floor easily to play with your grandkids?)
- A review and update of your exercise program
HOW IMPORTANT IS MOVING WELL?
Evidence suggests that movement is a valuable predictor of future health and resilience against disease. This means that moving well can keep you healthier and help you live longer. Below are some examples of the power of movement when it comes to predicting future health:
Gait Velocity
Gait velocity can be defined as the speed in which you walk. Several studies have indicated that you are likely able to complete typical daily activities independently if your typical walking speed is over 1 m/s or 3.3 ft/s. Further, you are less likely to be hospitalized and less likely to have adverse events such as falls with adequate gait velocity.
Get On and Off the Floor
According to multiple studies, if you are able to go from standing to sitting on the floor, then back to standing without using your hands, you are less likely to die than someone who is unable to. This is likely due to the fact that there is less risk of falling if you are able to do so. Therefore, sitting-rising is an important activity to assess in a physical therapy exam.
Both gait velocity and sitting-rising are not specific to any difficulty or ailment; however, the risk of hospitalization and death significantly decrease with the ability to adequately partake in these activities. With this in mind, we know that moving is incredibly important to maintaining your overall health and quality of life. For this reason, we believe that is extremely important to have an annual physical therapy exam to catch any issues early on and help you stay on track to becoming your healthiest self. Call us at (484) 526-5025 or visit our website at StLukesPT.com to schedule your physical therapy exam today!
References
Why Provide an Annual Physical Therapy Visit (APTA)
Physical Therapists' Role in Prevention, Wellness, Fitness, Health Promotion, and Management of Disease and Disability (APTA)
Ability to sit and rise from the floor is closely correlated with all-cause mortality risk (European Society of Cardiology, 2012)
Gait velocity as a single predictor of adverse events in healthy seniors aged 75 years and older (The Journals of Gerontology, 2005)