How do social factors influence the approach to clinical assessment?
Communication between the physiotherapist and patient will determine a diagnosis. The use of effective communication will facilitate accurate and precise diagnosis. The physiotherapist should have good communicating skills to be in a position to have a patient beneficial relationship. Effective communication as a social factor will facilitate physiotherapists to ask patient questions geared to come up with proper diagnosis and intervention.
Health consciousness by the patient will determine what approach the physiotherapist uses in assessment. When dealing with people with poor health assessment should focus mainly on musculoskeletal conditions caused by poor body health. Lack of Vitamin D is the main cause of immobility due to bone fragility.
Age as a social factor will determine if the physiotherapist should include other family assistance during teaching. Young people are prone to severe injuries due to engaging in strenuous activities.
Cultural background determines the assessment approach some cultures to hinder some practices, a physiotherapist may be hindered from massaging or palpating injured body part or region.
Environment preparation before the start of assessment is important to communicate to the patient. Those people prone to injuries or infections affecting body muscle function should be assessed based on the patient’s information. During history taking which doesn’t tally will provoke a physiotherapist for a further investigation like radiological and hemoglobin lab tests. Interaction between the physiotherapist, patient, and other professionals in the community is important. It helps in conducting better patient management for fast improvement and living of better life.
How social factors will influence the choice of outcome measures used in the management of physiotherapists?
There are various social factors, which affect the outcome of management physiotherapy; they include Income and social status, Social support networks, education and literacy, Employment/Working conditions, Social environments, Physical environments, Lifestyle, Personal health practices and coping skills, Health services, Gender, Culture, social safety, and disability status. Income and social will determine the patients’ ability to afford physiotherapy health services. Financially stable patients are in a better position to acquire these services. Social support will influence the emotional being of the patient who gets social support can heal fast. In addition, friends can offer other required support like financial stress, hence alleviating accumulated stress. Education will determine the patient s compliance to a therapy session, medication, and health-teaching promotion geared towards rehabilitation. Loss of job by the patient affects the patient negatively hence prolonging the duration of rehabilitation. These entire social factors will have the following effect on the outcome of physiotherapy.
Determine the main objective of increasing functional independence and endurance pulmonary and cardiovascular system in a patient receiving cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. This is because the patient can afford to pay for the cost of medical service. For Geriatric, physiotherapy patient is able to regain normal body function due to osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, hip, and balance disorders, joint replacement, and incontinence.
Neurological is done on physiotherapy patients who suffer neurological disorders or diseases. The objective of neurological physical therapy is to treat altered nervous function which causes loss of sight, immobility, and poor muscle control affecting body function.
Orthopedic physiotherapy is done to correct muscles and skeletal disorders. This form of therapy is preferred in treating patients after they have been operated on, those with a broken limb or muscle tension.
Pediatric rehabilitation helps in the detection of health problems in children. Physiotherapy helps in doing diagnosis, helps in providing treatment, and in establishing care for a patient who has disorders.
Physiotherapy is focused on boosting gross and fine motor functioning, coordination and balance, endurance, and strength in addition to cognitive and sensory integration. Integumentary physiotherapy involves treating situations including skin and other organs. It involves removing necrotic tissue to promote healing of the tissues. There are other forms of physiotherapy applied which include edema control, exercise, and compression splinting.
Conclusion
To attain effective physiotherapists should have an understanding of social factors that affect the assessment. Physiotherapists should practice holistic management to attain management outcomes efficiently. Medical management should complement physiotherapy to attain fast healing. Medications will boost muscle and nerve functioning. Nutritional support is required to maintain normal body functions.
References
Atkinson, K, Coutts, F & Hassenkamp, A 2005, Physiotherapy in orthopaedics: a problem-solving approach, Prentice Hall, New York.
Cove, F & Magee, DJ 2008, Orthopedic physical assessment, Elsevier Health Sciences, New York.
Brown, C 2006, Therapeutic taping for musculoskeletal conditions, The Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, vol. 52, no.3, pp. 234-270.
Fontana, TL, Richardson, CA & Stanton, RW 2005, The effect of weight bearing exercise with low frequency, whole body vibration on lumbosacral proprioception: A pilot study on normal subjects, Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, vol. 51, no.4, pp.259-63.
Refshauge, K & Gass, EL 2004, Musculoskeletal physiotherapy: clinical science and evidence-based practice, Prentice Hall, New York.