The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) plays a huge role in making sure physical therapists are aware of the nutrition and diet components of treating many conditions they may be faced with. “It is the role of the physical therapist to screen for and provide information of nutritional and diet information issues to clients, patients, and the community within the scope of physical therapist practice.”1 Whether you are healing from surgery or trying to recover from an injury, nutrition and diet play is a key component which can make a difference. Charissa Shadduck RD, came up with a set of eight guidelines that show how nutrition diet can make a difference in recovery from an injury or surgery, build muscular strength, and enjoy an overall better quality of life.3 These guidelines show what type and how much of food you need to consume to reap the benefits associated.
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly is key to good health. It can help you reduce or prevent the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension (high blood pressure), and depression, to name a few.2 It is important to intake vitamins and minerals, although taking supplements can help close the gap in an individual’s diet; it is considered better to have them absorbed from natural food.2 Nutrition and diet along with exercise is crucial to maintaining the five fitness components: flexibility, body composition, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and muscular strength which can improve an individual’s quality of life. Physical therapists are experts in physical activity prescription and management among a wide variety of populations.2 They can used their advanced knowledge to educate and create a program that incorporates exercise and diet and nutrition to help the individual achieve their goal.
In conclusion, I have discussed how a physical therapist helps clients prepare proper nutrition and diet regimens. Additionally, I have discussed some of the physical benefits that come with nutrition and diet and exercise. In my next blog, I will discuss how physical therapists utilize record keeping in their profession.
References
1ATPA (2015) http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/2015PacketI.pdf
2Ridgefield Physical Therapy. (2016, November 10). Wellness and Nutrition. Retrieved from Ridgefield Physical Therapy: http://ridgefieldphysicaltherapy.com/nutrition.php
3Shadduck, C. (2013, March 25). Top Nutrition Tips for Physical Therapy. Retrieved from
Peak Perfromance Physical Therapy: http://www.peakperformanceompt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Peak-Performance-Nutrition-tips.jpg
Jordan,
ReplyDeleteI am not going to lie, it never crossed my mind that a physical therapist would help prescribe nutritional advice. I always thought of them as helping someone recover from an injury/ disability. This is probably because I only went to a physical therapist after an athletic injury. I found this very interesting and it gave me a greater insight into what a physical therapist does.
Heather
Nice post on nutritional advice! I didn't know PTs can also prescribe and help clients with their nutrition! Great info!
ReplyDelete