Physical therapy
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Hypertrophic scars, a common sequelae to burn injuries, represent an overgrowth of dermal components like collagen. To the burn-injured patient, the red, raised, rigid scars represent impaired function and distorted appearance. ⋯ This article describes scarring and provides practical guidelines for pressure materials and stretching techniques. With an appropriate program, caring for a patient with burns becomes extremely beneficial and rewarding.
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The purpose of this paper is to discuss general treatment guidelines for treating patients with acute burns and to review pathophysiology of acute burn injuries. I will discuss skin composition briefly, give a review of acute burn pathophysiology and medical treatment, outline the psychological factors physical therapists should consider when working with these patients, and discuss physical therapy for the patient with acute burns. Physical therapy for patients with burns has become a specialty as knowledge of burn injuries increases. I have attempted to review physical therapy burn knowledge for inexperienced clinicians beginning to treat patients with acute burns.
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This paper presents legal and ethical considerations regarding informed consent for the evaluation and treatment of patients in physical therapy practice. Therapists traditionally think of informed consent in relation to clinical research, but as the trend toward independent practice and private practice increases in physical therapy, the physical therapist must understand the process of informed consent in relation to patient care. ⋯ The patient's moral right to self-determination and the corresponding duty of health professionals to "do no harm" create a strong moral basis for gaining a patient's informed consent. Practical suggestions are offered to physical therapists to help them assess their need for obtaining informed consent.
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Comparative Study
Method of determining optimal stimulation sites for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
This article describes a technique that allows therapists to use a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit and a finger to probe for the superficial points of nerves. The therapist holds one electrode of the stimulator channel in his hand and places the other electrode of the channel on the patient. ⋯ The rationale underlying this technique and its advantages and limitations are discussed. Because many of the points detected with this technique correspond to effective acupuncture points, the technique may also be a method of detecting those acupuncture points that are associated with nerves.
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I surveyed by questionnaire a random sample of 585 physical therapists and the administrators of all accredited and developing entry-level educational programs on record with the American Physical Therapy Association in March 1981 to determine attitudes toward, involvement in, and preparation for teaching as a skill in physical therapy. Results were based on responses from 367 (63%) of the physical therapists who spent at least 50 percent of their workday in direct patient-care activities and 95 (93%) of the administrators of the educational programs. Although 99 percent of the physical therapists believed that teaching was an important skill in their practice, only 34 percent had received instruction in teaching as part of their basic preparation. ⋯ Educational skills most frequently taught were writing learning objectives, planning the learning experience, understanding the role of the physical therapist as an educator, and teaching by lecture. Physical therapists consider teaching an important skill in physical therapy practice, but not all physical therapy programs include preparation in this area. Agreement on which skills are important is limited.