Thursday, December 12, 2024
PT Day
Amanda Mills, PT, DPT
On Day 4 of Trauma Week, our focus was on physical therapy, led by Dr. Amanda Mills. Unlike typical clinics, Dr. Mills operates out of her own gym, which is tailored to MMA athletes. Our patient has an incomplete spinal cord injury, meaning she can walk, though her mobility and sensation are impaired at the moment. To begin the class, we participated in a group activity to observe how heart rates increase during exertion by repeatedly sitting and standing in 20-second intervals, then a grip strength test was passed around for testing. My personal grip strength measured 63.8 pounds.
Physical therapy involves assessing the patient’s range of motion, strength, and balance to identify problems and develop interventions aimed at restoring normal function and mobility. For our patient, Day 1 precautions included avoiding weight-bearing activities, spinal flexion, and lifting. Tests such as feeling for sensation, evaluating active and passive range of motion, and assisting with joint movements were conducted to prevent stiffness and improve flexibility. Our patient currently cannot move her ankle due to nerve damage but is expected to regain movement within three months as nerves regenerate. She also struggles with hip flexion, lacks sensation in her leg, and has poor balance as a result of her spinal cord injury.
Dr. Mills emphasized that physical therapy is not only about learning to walk again but also about assisting the body in recovering from extreme events. Techniques like cupping and dry needling are part of the therapy process, which focuses on improving neuromuscular recruitment and helping patients regain full functionality. Even though our patient has been discharged and is safe to go home, the physical therapist’s role continues in supporting her journey back to independence and mobility.
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