Behind the Scenes - Physical Therapy

Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) endeavors to provide quality healthcare close to home for all Licking County residents.  The full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services offered through Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Physical Therapy provides a continuum of care to patients at every step of recovery.

Physical therapists are experts in movement.  They help patients improve mobility, balance, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities in those who suffer from injuries or disease.  If a physical impairment is identified, a physician may request that a physical therapist evaluate the patient.  The qualified physical therapists at LMH Physical Therapy will then complete a thorough evaluation by reviewing the patient’s medical history followed by a variety of tests and measures that give the Physical Therapist an idea of what is causing the impairment.  The physical therapist will then use the information gathered during the evaluation to develop an individualize treatment plan with patient specific goals.  Once this Plan of Care is established, with the help of the patient and their family, treatment will begin with periodic reassessments to ensure that progress is being made toward established goals.  These treatment sessions may also be completed by a physical therapist assistant, who is a licensed professional, trained to provide physical therapy treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist.

LMH offers physical therapy throughout the continuum of care.  For those whose injury or illness resulted in inpatient care,  physical therapy may start during the Hospital stay.  A physician may consult a physical therapist to evaluate and treat at the patient’s bedside to address physical impairments.  In this setting, the treatment likely focuses on the practice of safe transfers in and out of bed, a chair, or wheelchair; proper fit and practice on how to correctly use an assistive device, such as a walker; and variety of exercises to increase strength and flexibility.

Inpatient services are also provided by the staff of the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Department, located on the Sixth Floor at LMH.  These services are for patients who need more intensive rehabilitation to return home.  In order to be admitted to this unit, a patient must have a qualifying diagnosis, such as stroke or amputation, and must be able to handle 3 hours of therapy a day.  
Home Care is an option for patients who do not qualify for inpatient care and are otherwise unable to attend outpatient physical therapy sessions.  The goal of home care is to maximize independence and safety.  After receiving an appropriate referral from a physician, the LMH Home Care physical therapist will arrange a time to meet with the patient to develop a care plan.  Focusing on the individual’s needs, the physical therapist will develop a home care plan that is centered on the patient’s unique set of circumstances and environment.

For those who require further treatment after a Hospital stay or require only outpatient care, services are available at the Gib Reese Center for Physical Rehabilitation located at 1717 West Main Street in Newark and the Pataskala Health Campus located at One Health Place.  Although orthopedic injuries, such as those incurred through sports or accidents, are the most referred, LMH Physical Therapy treats a variety of injuries and diseases at the outpatient facility, including:

• Neurological conditions
• Arthritis
• Heart disease 
• Burns 
• Amputations 
• Joint replacement 
• Head injuries 
• Back pain 
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Cerebral palsy 
• Nerve injuries 
• Post-surgical recovery
• Women’s health

Outpatient care is provided to individuals of all ages including infants and children.  A group of dedicated, specially trained healthcare providers at LMH Physical Therapy provide pediatric therapy for developmental delays and other orthopedic conditions beginning at birth.

Additionally, the Physical Therapy staff are continuously trained in new techniques to expand the services available in Licking County, which reduces a patient’s need to travel.  Vestibular therapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and most recently, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention program are a few of the unique services offered at LMHS that may not be available at other community hospitals.

Vestibular therapy is used to treat patients who suffer from dizziness and balance issues.  The therapists will guide the patient through a series of specific exercises to help alleviate symptoms.  Exercises may involve eye movement control, balance retraining, stretching, and strengthening.   

A recent addition to the services provided at LMH Physical Therapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation is a non-surgical, non-invasive, painless, specialized kind of physical therapy performed to relieve the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and help the muscles work correctly.  The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the base of the pelvis that help control bladder and bowel functions, and are also involved with sexual function.  These muscles can weaken, become painful, and cause issues such as urinary or fecal incontinence, pain during intercourse, and pelvic organ prolapse.  During treatment, the highly-trained therapists apply techniques and exercises that restore mobility and movement and reduce pain.
Sportsmetrics™, a program for athletes ages 10 to 21, is the most recent addition to the services provided by LMH Physical Therapy staff.  The training, conducted over six weeks, three sessions per week, is designed to reduce the risk of ACL injuries that can occur while participating in sports.  The scientifically proven methods reduce the risk of serious knee injuries by improving strength, coordination, agility, and flexibility.

The Sportsmetrics™ Training Program is designed to be beneficial to athletes of all skill levels.  Participants receive feedback on proper jumping/landing technique and improve coordination, strength, agility, and flexibility to decrease injury risk to the knee.  The Sportsmetrics™ Training Program consists of four components to train the body to move correctly:

• Dynamic warm up
• Jump training
• Strength training
• Flexibility

Whether providing traditional or specialized physical therapy services, the staff at LMH Physical Therapy takes a patient-first approach to provide compassionate care close to home and throughout the entire recovery process.  Because treatment is provided over the course of several sessions, physical therapy staff may see a patient more than any other provider.

| Posted On : 9/27/2023 10:37:13 AM