A recent story on the front page of the Seattle Times (10/2/11) from the New York Times talked about the title “Dr.”, and who it belongs to. At issue are other people in fields of Medicine who now earn doctorates. This list includes physical therapists, nurses, and pharmacists. Currently there are 203 programs that offer the professional doctorate in Physical Therapy. These programs are typically 3+ years long (post graduate), often associated with other medical education programs, and are a combination of didactic classroom study, labs and clinical rotations  ( averaging about 27 weeks) following classroom training.

This article discusses about the battle over the title “doctor” and the money, power, and prestige that come with it. In practice, the title of Doctor of Physical Therapy does not increase the reimbursement for our treatments. Power is really not an issue in terms of access the patient has to Physical Therapy. In Washington State, people have had direct access to visit Physical Therapists since 1988 (meaning that a prescription from an MD is not required. Currently this is true in 46 states). Even with this autonomy, we continue to work as a part of the traditional healthcare team.

Prestige is involved here. The title “doctor” is deserved as an indication of the level of education and training Physical Therapists receive. It does not define nor expand the “scope of practice” of Physical Therapists. Without a doubt, we are the experts in musculoskeletal injuries and rehabilitation, providing the direct hands-on treatments that benefit patients.

The article goes on to say that direct access leads to getting a larger share of money spent on patient care. This in fact is not the case. Direct access has not led to overutilization, and in fact reduces the overall cost, often eliminating the costs of a brief MD visit prior to seeing the Physical therapist, and expensive diagnostic procedures that might not be necessary in many cases.

We are the experts in movement, and musculoskeletal injuries, and well as rehabilitation of neurological conditions. Our training is very focused, and many therapists specialize following graduation, obtaining Specialist Certifications in 8 distinct areas after completing the training and passing the certification exams. As an important part of our training, we quickly recognize conditions that are outside the scope of our practice or that require additional diagnostic tests. Because we practice within the medical profession, we refer these patients to the appropriate healthcare provider.

Interestingly, chiropractic is not mentioned in this article is. With generally less training, and operating outside of traditional Medical establishment, chiropractors nevertheless call themselves “Doctor” with great pride and autonomy. 

I believe the take-home lesson from this article is not the confusion it might cause patients. No one should represent themselves falsely, but the title of “Doctor of Physical Therapy” should re-assure patients of the academic and clinical training their therapist has, and the professional and effective treatment they receive.

Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole evening to learn more about physical therapy and the therapists and work done at the clinic.  Light appetizers and drinks will be served.

WHAT:  Physical Therapy 101

WHEN:  Thursday, October 27 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Coppersmith Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy

Coppersmith Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy is an independent clinic located near the University Village in Seattle, owned and operated by physical therapists.  Coppersmith PT has been a leader in outpatient physical therapy since 1980.  Learn more about the clinic or schedule your appointment by visiting www.coppersmithpt.com or calling 206-524-6702.

This month University-area Coppersmith Physical Therapy with celebrate the clinic’s 10^th birthday.  Join therapists and staff on July 28 to honor this accomplishment.

“Ten years in business calls for a celebration!  We’re looking forward to seeing past patients, physicians we work with and neighbors and friends of the clinic on July 28,” said Penny Coppersmith, PT, clinic owner and lead therapist.

We're turning 10! Time to celebrate!

WHAT:  Celebrate 10 years in business

WHEN:  Thursday, July 28 from 6 – 9 p.m.

WHERE:  Coppersmith Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 5025- 25^th Ave NE #201, Seattle, 98105

Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole evening to learn more about physical therapy and the therapists and work done at the clinic.  Light appetizers and drinks will be served.

 Coppersmith Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy is an independent clinic located near the University Village in Seattle, owned and operated by physical therapists.  Coppersmith PT has been a leader in outpatient physical therapy since 1980.  Learn more about the clinic or schedule your appointment by visiting www.coppersmithpt.com or calling 206-524-6702.

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Kevin McQuade, PT, MPH, PhD is a UW associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Director of the Human Motion Analysis Research Lab. This study examines new instrumentation to objectively assess movement and stiffness of the shoulder while manually mobilizing, or moving the joint.

He is actively seeking volunteers to be subjects in this study. To participate, you must have some documented limitation of your shoulder range of motion and you must be between 18 and 65 years old and have a recent referral for Physical Therapy.  The research testing, conducted here at our clinic, lasts about 1 hour. You will be paid $75.00 for your time.

This study is federally funded, and approved by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (IRB).

This is not a treatment study. They are not attempting to increase your range of motion and participation will not replace Physical Therapy treatments you may be receiving. The benefit is the contribution to the body of knowledge concerning this aspect of Physical Medicine.

To confirm your qualifications to participate and schedule an appointment, call 293-9933 or 598-5411.

Sports & Injuries

Concussions: the impact on you as an athlete

By Colin Sisco, DPT

                Head injuries can occur in almost all recreational activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) estimates as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the United States every year and there are about 900 sports-related traumatic brain injury deaths each year.

          A concussion may or may not cause loss of consciousness. Symptoms usually include confusion, head ache and blurred vision. In the more extreme cases vomiting and loss of consciousness can occur. Because of the varied symptoms that can be present, the injury may not always be easy to recognize at first.

         In the population of young people (15-24 years old), the CDCP  estimates that concussions account for nearly one in 10 sports injuries, making sports second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of brain injury.  The reason for this, according to a 2009 study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, may be due to athletes returning to the playing field too soon. In fact, their study concludes that 40% of high school athletes who suffer concussions return to the field of play prematurely,  putting themselves at greater risk for more severe injuries.

 Signs of concussions can be divided into two categories: Immediate signs (seconds to minutes) after the injury, and Later signs (hours to days post injury).

    As with all injuries, there are variations in the severity of concussions. The severity is often used in determining when a person can return to play. These are defined below:

       When to return to play, a decision often made on the sideline, is a critical issue. The effects of multiple injuries are more severe and can lead to long-lasting problems.

 The general rules for returning to play are guided by the severity:

1. When there are no more symptoms, and

2. Symptoms and neurological assessments are normal (both at rest and during  exercise).

Guidelines for return to activity:

          The evaluation of the athlete can be relatively easily done to assess the severity of the injury. In the absence of a healthcare professional, the following testing can be administered. The athlete should be able to answer all questions correctly.

 On-Field Cognitive Testing:

 Any failure should be considered abnormal.  Consult a physician following a suspected concussion.

Play hard, Play safe! 

Resources and references:

http://impacttest.com/concussion/overview

http://www.concussionsafety.com/

http://www.whsaa.org/Forms/concussion/ClinicsinSportsMedicinePublished2004.pdf

Washington’s current spinal manipulation ban is one of the strongest in the country prohibited in only Washington and Arkansas.  This prohibition is the result of negotiations with the State chiropractic group in when the Physical Therapy Practice Act was revised in the late 1980’s that eliminated the need for referral from a physician to be treated by a Physical Therapist (direct access).  Our efforts to remove this manipulation restriction have been aggressively opposed by the chiropractors.

We are not restricted from manipulation of other joints (wrist, shoulder, knee, etc). Students in Physical Therapy are taught all of these techniques in their doctoral training, including Spinal manipulation.

The proposed legislation would allow PTs to perform spinal manipulation. As a safeguard, it also requires Clinicians to submit an affidavit that they have had adequate education and training in this procedure.  The bill would also allow Washington State PTs to advertise spinal manipulation and mobilization.  Spinal manipulation is only one of many techniques utilized by Physical Therapist, but an important one to have in our clinical armament to use when indicated.

The bill will be heard on February 16, and I’ll provide an update once an outcome is reached!

– Penny

Contact: Jeff Coppersmith, PT,
206-920-3358, coppersmithpt@gmail.com

University-area Coppersmith Physical Therapy
welcomes back Dr. Colin Sisco

Colin Sisco, DPT at Coppersmith Physical Therapy

SEATTLE – Coppersmith Physical Therapy welcomes in the New Year by adding a new therapist to the practice, Colin Sisco, DPT, who will join the clinic’s other Physical Therapists Penny Coppersmith, Jeff Coppersmith, Tracy Lloyd, and Gary Hansen.  Dr. Sisco returns to the clinic to from his previous work at the clinic as a Physical Therapist Aide from 2006 to 2007.

“I am passionate about educating my patients about the cause of their problem, resolving the issue and providing a clear and easy to follow treatment program to help them achieve their short and long-term goals,” said Dr. Sisco.  “I’m also very excited to be back in the Northwest and see the familiar faces in the neighborhood and at the clinic.”

Dr. Sisco returned to the University district physical therapy clinic from the University of Southern California, where he graduated Cum Laude in May 2010.  While at USC, his studies and practice focused on movement analysis, a biomechanical approach to diagnose a patient’s pain based on the way they move.  Dr. Sisco also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine and has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2007.

“My primary purpose as a physical therapist is to make sure every treatment is effective and centered on patient goals.  I’m looking forward to being back in Seattle and establishing myself as a therapist here,” Dr. Sisco added.

Coppersmith Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy is an independent clinic located near the University Village in Seattle, owned and operated by physical therapists.  Coppersmith PT has been a leader in outpatient physical therapy since 1980.  Learn more about the clinic or schedule your appointment by visiting www.coppersmithpt.com or calling 206-524-6702.

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In addition to appetitizers and drinks, there will be a special presentation by two of our aides, Loriana and Hannah (elite Ultimate Frisbee competitors) , for Ultimate Peace , a non-profit organization.