Medicine and Allied Health

What is Allied Health

-allied health professionals all incorporate some form of diagnostics and apply exercise and movement experiences to improve a person’s physical functioning

Diagnostic

identify physiological, anatomical, biomechanical limitations

Interventions

correct the idnetified problem

Rehabilitative therapeutic exercises

-restoration of lost function that were previously acquired but have been lost because of injury, disease, behavioral traits

-musculoskeletal injuries, athletic injuries, postsurgical trauma, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, older populations, mental health

Habilitative therapeutic exercise

-acquisition of skills/functions considered normal or expected for specialized fitness

-over weight /obese populations, children with developmental disorders, general fitness

Core Competencies

-provide patient care

-work in interdisciplinary teams

-employ evidence-based practice

-apply quality improvement

-use informatics

Reassessing Disability

-focuses on what a patient can do

-Goal of therapeutic exercise professionals: help people restore lost function or acquire skills and functions considered normal or expected

Sedentary Lifestyles

-societal changes have negatively affected the health of a significant portion of the population

-the information age has created a relatively sedentary group of people

-therapeutic exercise can offer more balanced lifestyle

Medical and Allied Health Settings

-inpatient facilities

-outpatient clinic settings

-sport team settings

-private practice

Roles for Medical and Allied Health Professionals

-credentials for each profession vary, overlap, change

-strong science base and an active clinical education component are critical to you preparation and success

-the need for multiskilled and multicredentialed individuals will increase as competition in the health care industry increases

Primary Medical Professions

-require professional doctorate degree

-clinicians must pass national board exams before they can practice

-physicians, dentists, physician assistants, chiropractors

Athletic Trainer

-responsible for the prevention, evaluation, management, treatment, rehabilitation fo athletic injuries

-athletic and clinical settings

-must graduate from an entry-level master’s degree program accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Athletic training Education (CAATE)

-Board of Certification (BOC)

-high schools, colleges/universities, pro sport teams, hospitals, sports med clinics, industrial rehab

Clinical Exercise Physiologist

-cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic disease care

-exercise testing and prescription

-program administration

-recommended undergraduate and graduate degree

-specialized course and certifications (ACSM)

Occupational Therapist

-helps people with physical, emotions, or mental disability restore or develop maximum level of independence by emphasizing acquisition and retention of functional skills

-help improve concentration, motor skills, problem-solving

-National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

-Physical therapy specialty certifications

-state licensure

-OT: master’s degree, doctoral degrees

-COTA- OT assistant: 2 year program

Physical Therapist

-provides rehabilitative care toa diverse patient population with a wide range of injuries, illnesses and disease

-PT: accredited master’s degree program, state licensure, pt specialty certifications, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

-PTA: delivers care under direction of PT, Accredited two-year program, state licensure

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

-treats people with physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral disabilities to restore function and reduce or eliminate the effects of disability and develop independence; utilize leisure activates to restore function

-bachelors degree in therapeutic recreation

-internship under a certified recreation specialist

-National Certification exam: certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS)- credentialed by NCTRC

-limited growth because of hospital settings

Strength and Conditioning Specialist

-maximizes physical performance, reduces the frequency of injury, and decreases the possibility of cardiovascular disease by designing programs for the specific needs of the individual

-bachelors degree in kinesiology preferred, required for some certifications

-certificatio9ns recommended: National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

-Current CPR certification

Orthotists and Prosthetists

-blend of health care, engineering, fabrication

-masters degree

-residency

-National certification exam: American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics

-growing potential

Clinicians

devise and develop therapeutic exercise plans and are called on to solve problems and make decisions

Technicians

experts at performing specific sets of skills

Trends and Opportunities in Medicine and Allied Health

-fulfill a societal need

-assist in attaining desired levels of fitness

-assist in regaining lost function

-cover a wide range of populations