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The Solution to the Problem

 

A primary emphasis of the APTA Choosing Wisely campaign was to replace passive PT interventions with more active treatment plans.  In fact, 40% of the APTA recommended treatments to avoid, deal directly with increasing the patient’s active participation in their rehabilitation.  The quicker transition to active interventions, typically have a greater impact on pain, mobility, and overall function.

 

The time and research put forth by the APTA and its board of experts resulted in a report that was published in The Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association.  A more consumer-friendly summary was also published in Consumer Reports magazine.  Despite all the research and recommendations from the APTA, they neglect to deliver the ever-important “HOW?”

 

Every physical therapist knows that active interventions are more beneficial than passive modalities or PROM.  However, what if a postoperative TKA patient can’t actively perform a heel slide, or a postoperative THA patient can’t perform supine hip abduction exercises?  The ROM™ Board is the answer!  The decreased coefficient of friction is the key that allows patients to progress quickly and safely from PROM->AAROM->AROM.

 

Prominent orthopedic surgeon’s, like Dr. John Wright of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, have been performing their own research for nearly a decade.  With roughly 300 knee replacement procedures performed each year, Dr. Wright has the experience and reputation necessary to affect a change within the medical community.

 

His team’s research provided evidence that new rehabilitation protocols were needed to better serve patients, especially following total joint replacements.  Previous post-operative care involved the use of a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, which typically resulted in increased pain and a slowed recovery.  Early intervention of AROM and strengthening exercises were found to produce more favorable results.  Dr. Wright was quoted as saying, “We’ve found that when we get patients up and about more quickly, their pain scores have been lower than before, and they gain their ROM and mobility much quicker”.

 

Further research within this field is imminent.  The financial benefits of improved patient outcomes and shorter hospitalization following surgery continue to drive the research.  The ultimate goal of reduced healthcare costs will help produce better treatment interventions, techniques, and products.  One such product is beginning to distinguish itself as a requisite rehabilitation tool due to its versatility, durability, and ease of use.  That product is the ROM™ Board.  This product is poised to become part of the future of rehabilitation.  The ROM™ Board provides physical therapists the ability to progress treatments quicker and safer regardless of the patient’s level of function.

 

The research has been performed.  The evidence is clear.  The ROM™ Board is the future.