Data and Collection Reflection
In our Data and Collections class we learned a great deal about Joint Range of Motion and Strength tests of our muscles. Data collection is very helpful when a patient is receiving Physical Therapy. It helps to get a base line of where a patient is at when developing a diagnosis. This helps us to see if a patient is responding effectively to our treatment and interventions. It may also help to know if that Home Exercises Programs are beneficial to a patient or not. I found it very interesting to know that we can gain so much information about a patient based off of minimal equipment and basic testing that takes little time to complete. To perform all of the Goniometry measurements and Manual Muscle tests all we need is a simple Goniometer, tape measure and our own hands. Once we get our baseline information we as PTAs can continually do these tests to mark a patient’s progress through therapy. We can alter or develop appropriate goals based off of the results.
By the end of the semester I felt very comfortable with all of the measurements both in joint mobility and muscle testing. This class did a great job at incorporating information we learned from our prior musculoskeletal anatomy class. I was really glad that we were able to use that information so that I had to continue study all of the muscles and their attachments and actions. It is really important to take into consideration the muscles and their orientations and attachment, the kinematics of the joints so that we can more easily identify where a problem may exist for the patient. Without understanding this we could end up stretching and strengthening the wrong areas and make the problems our patients are complaining of worse.
One thing that I really liked was learning were the special tests. Even though we will not be performing the special tests. When we see them recorded in a patient’s medical chart or discussing the patient with the Physical Therapist, we can have a good idea of what is going on with the patient.
By the end of the semester I felt very comfortable with all of the measurements both in joint mobility and muscle testing. This class did a great job at incorporating information we learned from our prior musculoskeletal anatomy class. I was really glad that we were able to use that information so that I had to continue study all of the muscles and their attachments and actions. It is really important to take into consideration the muscles and their orientations and attachment, the kinematics of the joints so that we can more easily identify where a problem may exist for the patient. Without understanding this we could end up stretching and strengthening the wrong areas and make the problems our patients are complaining of worse.
One thing that I really liked was learning were the special tests. Even though we will not be performing the special tests. When we see them recorded in a patient’s medical chart or discussing the patient with the Physical Therapist, we can have a good idea of what is going on with the patient.