Trauma Week Day Four

December 12, 20

24 with Physical Therapy

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Today, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Amanda Mills, a physical therapist who owns the building and gym where she works with her patients directly. She primarily works with MMA fighters and has a specialized patient base. To kick off her presentation, Dr. Mills introduced a grip strength test, which involves pressing a device as hard as you can to measure how strong your grip is. Unfortunately, my grip strength was quite low, registering at only 36.3.

Dr. Mills then explained what physical therapy is and how it can benefit patients. The first step in physical therapy is to assess the patient to determine the nature of their problem. For example, she discussed a case involving a 17-year-old female who had suffered a burst fracture and had already undergone surgery. The neurosurgeon placed screws and rods to stabilize the injury. After the assessment, the physical therapist develops a plan of care to address the issues identified.

The main goal of physical therapy is to help the patient return to their normal functions and mobility. This is achieved through a combination of stretches, exercises, and strength-building activities. The therapist also works to restore the patient’s full range of motion, strength, and balance.

We were then asked to consider what we knew about spinal cord injuries in this case. Dr. Mills guided us to the conclusion that the injury was "incomplete," meaning that the spinal cord was still able to send some messages to and from the brain. Although there was some nerve damage, some nerves remained intact. After surgery, the patient was placed on several restrictions, including no weightlifting, no weight-bearing activities, no excessive movement, and no spinal flexion. These restrictions provide the physical therapist with a clearer understanding of what they’re working with and how best to proceed with treatment.