Week 9 Prompt Post: Recognizing Significance

We're supposed to find a news story that reports on the significance of our field and I found a news story article on how exercise and movement could potentially help those with the disease Alzheimer's avoid being put into a nursing home. The article was about a study that was done and it looked at three different groups. There was an in-home exercise group where physical therapists came in and helped patients, a group-exercise classes section where the patients would go see a physical therapist in a group setting, and then there was a usual-care group who received different tips and pointers on how they should be eating and exercising. The results showed that although all the groups physical condition declined, some declined more than others. The group that was in the best condition was the group that recieved in-home physical therapy and they were able to do more physically than both the other groups.

In this story,  new opportunites are being opened up for research between physical therapy and Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is becoming more prevalent in the older generation and there's now something that can't cure the disease but it can help treat it in the best way possible. The field of physical therapy plays an important role in this research and without it this new door wouldn't have been opened.

After reading the article, and learning about how physical therapists helped patients who have Alzheimer's and it ultimately gave them more time in their normal living environment because their physical condition was kept up to par and less accidents like falling were happening. In my opinion, this article stresses the importance of the physical therapy field. It's a great article because it shows how hope is given back to Alzheimer's patients. Physical therapists are helping these patients live their lives to the best that they can. Without the help of physical therapy these patients would have had a rapid decline in their health and physical condition.

Physical therapists had an impact on these patients and their families lives and that's really the most important thing about physical therapy. Physical therapy isn't just about helping a patient regain their mobility it's also about how the patients life can change for the better because of physical therapy.






CITATIONS

Goodman, Brenda. "Exercise May Help People With Alzheimer's Avoid Nursing Homes." Health. U.S. News & World Report, 15 Apr 2013. Web. 18 Mar 2013.