Athletic Trainers (AT’s) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. AT’s have unique skills to identify injury risk potentials, create strategies to reduce risk of injury, and promote healthy choices for employees. Incorporating the skill set of AT’s into the workplace has proven to provide not only a reduction in recordable injury rates, but a positive benefit in overall health and wellness for a company’s employees.
Companies that contract for or provide Industrial Health Injury Prevention Services show a significant return on their investment:
(Data obtained by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association through a national survey of industrial companies that utilize the services of an Athletic Trainer.)
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. provides services designed to increase workplace safety through Education, Preparation, Wellness and Rehabilitation. We focus on injury prevention, but also have the expertise to help injured workers recover more quickly.
EDUCATION
Ergonomics Training
Employees receive training in how to fit the work to the worker and best utilize their bodies. Improving workplace ergonomics helps reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders by decreasing at risk behaviors and body positions.
Injury Prevention Education
Knowing the “WHY” is important to employees when changing a potential injury risk behavior. Injury Prevention Education answers the “WHY” by tying together ergonomics with anatomy and physiology to explain the importance of developing safe work habits.
Monthly Health Topics
Employees receive information through presentations, handouts, and other means on topics relevant to injury prevention, general health and wellness, and current “hot” topics.
PREPARATION
Ready for Work Warm-Up
We work with employers to implement a pre-shift warm-up program consisting of stretching and movement patterns that prepare employees for the physical tasks of their job.
New Hire Training
We help in the development of safe work practices of new employees. Reinforcing proper technique early in a new hire’s employment can lower their risk of musculoskeletal injuries that occur as the result of bad work place habits.
Job Demands Analysis
We examine and quantify the specific physical demands required to perform a given job. This information is used to create accurate, objective, and reliable job descriptions.
Post-Offer Employment Testing (POET)
By utilizing the job demands analysis we create and administer a testing procedure to assess if an individual is physically capable of performing a specific job to proactively minimize the risk of injury.
WELLNESS
Non-Recordable Discomfort Management
Early intervention is key to preventing discomfort from becoming a recordable injury. Many forms of discomfort can be managed by our healthcare professionals within the OSHA guidelines for first aid that do not result in a recordable injury. Not only are recordable injury rates decreased, but employee productivity increases when people are working without discomfort.
Injury/Illness Preventative Screenings
Preventative screenings look to identify areas of physical limitations that can be addressed through our strength and conditioning programs. We offer a number of different injury preventative screenings to meet the needs of your employees.
Strength and Conditioning Programs
Healthy employees who exercise regularly have a reduced the number of sick days, improved productivity, and reduced long term health issues and disease. No matter the industry, our experts can be advocates in helping employees improve their overall health and wellness. Programs can be specific to the individual or company wide.
REHABILITATION
Individualized Physical Therapy
Our goal to help the injured worker recover as quickly and safely as possible. Our team of experts utilize the most recent evidence-based skills to create a comprehensive plan to help the injured worker.
Work Conditioning
Work Conditioning utilized the employee’s job description or job demands analysis to create an individualized program to prepare the worker for their return to full work duties. It is a highly structured, goal-oriented program designed to bridge the gap between Physical Therapy and return to work. (learn more here)
Hybrid Conditioning Program
This program combines Physical Therapy and Work Conditioning. Injured workers avoid overall body deconditioning while still having focus on treatment of the injured body part. This program is perfect for post-surgical patients, post-concussion management, and reoccurring injuries.
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs)
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) identifies a person’s level of ability to participate in work. An FCE identifies accommodations or modifications that can be made to keep the worker in the same work or guide alternative work.
Please contact us at deslinger@physicaltherapypt.com or call 612-558-7120 to learn more and to find out what specific services will benefit your business.
Dustin Eslinger, MA, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy February 27th, 2019
Posted In: General
It’s March Madness!! I hope you are enjoying all of the college and high school basketball tournament games taking place this month. It is a great month to be a sports fan!
As an athletic trainer I spend a lot of time working to keep athletes injury-free and to help them rehab from injuries that do occur. Here are the top 5 most common injuries that occur with basketball participation according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and tips on how to decrease their occurrence.
1. Foot/Ankle Injuries
These injuries are easily the most common seen injuries in basketball. They include ankle sprains, fractures, and tendonitis.
Prevention: First, make sure you have the appropriate footwear for basketball participation. Strengthening, balance training, and proper conditioning all help decrease injury risk.
2. Hip/Thigh Injuries
Hip flexor, hamstring, and quadriceps strains are among the most common injuries in basketball.
Prevention: Strengthening, balance training, using proper jumping/landing mechanics, and proper conditioning can decrease injury risk. Proper warm-up and increasing flexibility can also decrease injury risk.
3. Knee Injuries
Knee injuries including overuse injuries and ligaments sprains/tears have the third highest incidence of occurring in basketball.
Prevention: Once again strengthening, balance training, using proper jumping/landing mechanics, and proper conditioning can decrease injury risk. The use of a proper fitting knee brace may also lessen injury risk.
4. Wrist/Hand Injuries
Wrist and hand injuries account for approximately 11% of basketball injuries occur to the wrist/hand/forearm according to the study.
Prevention: Having good court awareness, hand-eye coordination training, and having proper technique when taking a charge can decrease injury risk.
5. Head/Face Injuries
Injuries to the head and face are hard to prevent. They include concussions, contusions, nose and eye injuries, and lacerations.
Prevention: The important thing to watch out for here is concussion symptoms and to make sure they are managed by a healthcare professional with concussion management expertise.
One very interesting statistic that was found in the NATA report is that roughly 60% of injuries occur in the second half of games, suggesting that fatigue plays a big part in when injuries are most likely to occur. Managing playing time throughout a game may play a role in staying injury-free.
If you are experiencing pain from a sports related injury our rehabilitation experts can help! Visit www.physicaltherapyptc.com/free-consultation/ to request a free consultation and a member of our care team will call you to answer any questions you may have.
Dustin Eslinger, MA, ATC, ITAT
Athletic Trainer
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
Dustin Eslinger March 21st, 2018
Posted In: General
It’s that time of year again! Spring is almost here which means baseball season is officially here!! When starting spring training, it’s important for the players to maintain proper shoulder mobility as repetitive overhead throwing can cause tightness of the shoulder and chest, typically resulting in loss of throwing velocity and overuse injuries. I’ve incorporated a combination of mobility and strengthening exercises below for the baseball player to reduce the likelihood of injury to the throwing arm over the course of a long season.
Cross-Body Stretch
This stretch addresses the muscles in the back of the shoulder which are prone to tightness in overhead athletes. This stretch is performed lying on the involved side with hips and knees bent. The involved shoulder and elbow are positioned in 90 degrees of flexion. The hand of the uninvolved arm grasps the elbow of the involved arm and gently pulls it across the body. Once a mild stretch is felt on the outside or back of the shoulder, this position is held for approximately 30 seconds.
Thoracic Spine Windmill
This is a great dynamic mobility drill to restore thoracic spine rotation and improve the flexibility of the lats and pectoral muscles. Begin on your side with both arms outstretched in front of you. Place a foam roll under your top leg with the knee and hip bent to 90 degrees. The bottom knee and hip remain extended throughout the exercise. Reach forward with your top hand and then complete a large circular windmill motion as you rotate your entire upper body. Keep reaching as if you were attempting to lengthen your entire arm. Follow your hand with your eyes to ensure proper thoracic spine and rib cage movement. The top knee and leg should remain in contact with the foam roll throughout the exercise. Perform 10 reps on each side.
Side lying external rotation with dumbbell
Lie on uninvolved side with involved arm at side of body and elbow bent to 90. Keeping the elbow of involved arm fixed to side, raise arm with dumbbell in hand. Hold for 2 seconds and lower back to starting position. Perform 2 sets of 20 reps. Make sure to start light and work up to 3 pounds. It is more about proper form and range of motion rather than the amount of weight. Start at 2 sets of 20 reps and progress to 3 sets of 20 reps as able.
Lower trap strengthening on stability ball
Seated on SB, with both arms fixed at side and elbows bent to 90 degrees. thumbs facing upwards. Grasp tubing with both hands and rotate both shoulders outward, rotating thumbs until parallel with floor. Hold for 2 seconds then return to starting position. Perform 2 sets of 15-20 reps.
T’s
Lie on stomach on stability ball, face down, with both arms hanging straight to floor and palms facing down. Raise both arms out to the side parallel to the floor, hold for 2 seconds then lower slowly back to starting position. Add weight as able, perform 2 sets of 15 reps.
Our team of experts at Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc can design a sport specific rehab program that incorporates a combination of strengthening and range of motion exercises for the overhead athlete. This program is created to help the athlete return to the field from injury, improve form, and work to avoid injuries in the future.
Kaitlyn Grell, LPTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy March 14th, 2018
Posted In: General
Tags: baseball, injury prevention, overhead athlete, throwing
