Teaching good posture in travel PT

In travel physical therapy it's always important to make sure that your patients maintain good posture. This can mean the difference between building strength and becoming injured during an exercise. If you want to ensure that your patients improve, you may want to talk to them about their posture outside of PT sessions.

Posture and injury
Posture on it's own will not cause an injury, but it may lead to one. Not sitting upright can cause a patient's conditions to worsen, which will eventually lead to further health care intervention for treatment. However, when conducting routines in your travel PT jobs you will want to make sure that your patients are closely following instruction and not putting weight or pressure on a vulnerable area. Provide those who are struggling to maintain good posture throughout the day with tips for success.

Exercise options
While working in travel therapy, you have a number of routines at your disposal to encourage your patients to improve their strength and posture. Those who have suffered a serious injury or illness may have experienced muscle loss as a result of their recovery. Help these individuals build back muscle mass so that they have the strength to work on their posture.

One exercise to consider is to have the patient stand against a wall with his or her head and shoulders touching it. Instruct your patient to lift his or her arms out to the sides of the body while keeping both heels as well as his or her body and head pushed against the wall. Your patient should continue lifting his or her arms until contact with the wall is lost. At this level, the arms should be held for 15 seconds and then lowered. Have your patient repeat this exercise 10 times.

Another great routine to have your patient complete begins with him or her sitting in a car with a straight back and eyes focused forward. Instruct your patient to push his or her shoulders down, as though someone is pressing on them. Pulling the chin straight back, your patient should align the head and neck so tension creates at the back of the neck. After holding for five seconds, have him or her relax and repeat 20 more times.

Even patients who are not suffering from poor posture can benefit from these exercises, because they help to reduce back and neck pain. If necessary, ask them to complete the routines on a daily basis.