Medical Exercise Protocols….
Systematize, Monetize and Simplify Your Practice with a Protocol-based Approach
Every Postrehabologist enjoys developing and managing post rehab programs for their clients. Helping clients by using their knowledge, skills and techniques to produce positive outcomes is the reason most Postrehabologists enter the field. The independence associated with managing medical conditions through exercise offers Postrehabologists a RUSH that makes all their study and learning worthwhile. As a post rehab practice grows, the need for standardized guidelines and a protocol-based approach to managing clients and administrative tasks may prove to be financially and clinically beneficial.
Adopting the protocol-based approach using our PREPs – Post Rehab Exercise Protocols is the basis for delivery of medical exercise services for clients with more than 60 medical conditions including:
- total joint replacements,
- low back conditions,
- neurological conditions and others.
Every Postrehabologist must instantly understand the related anatomy and pathology, post rehab criteria to enter the program as well as post rehab goals, assessment procedures, phased exercise selection and progression for the most common conditions seen in their practice. To ensure a clear understanding of the client’s condition and effective delivery of post rehab services, the protocol-based approach is ideal. Utilizing post rehab protocols will allow you greater flexibility and efficiency in implementing post rehab training.
Contrary to what most Postrehabologist think: post rehab protocols aren’t restrictive. They allow you creativity and independence in developing and delivering post rehab services. The PREPs protocols aren’t etched in stone nor do they prohibit modification. My philosophy when I developed the protocols was, “Manage the condition but train the client.” This means use a protocol based approach to manage the condition, but modify the protocol to meet the specific needs of each individual client based on thePostrehabologist’s assessment findings. If an exercise must be eliminated, or an exercise added, the protocol allows this. Our PREPs Protocols are simply roadmaps pointing to maximal functional outcome based on the client’s condition. Protocols allowPostrehabolgists the flexibility to manage the condition and train the client.
A post rehab or medical exercise protocol should include:
- A summary of the condition’s anatomy and pathology;
- Post rehab criteria – guidelines on client entry;
- Post rehab goals;
- Post rehab assessment guidelines;
- Post rehab precautions/contraindications;
- Post rehab program design, including specific exercises;
- Post rehab exercise progression guidelines;
- Post rehab flowcharts (diagram of exercise progression).
Every aspect of medical practices, including: nursing, chiropractic, pharmacy, physical therapy and even surgery, are based on medical protocols. Protocols provide a safe baseline for your practice and program development. Based on your experience and skills you may modify each protocol or develop your own. The ultimate in the evolution of every Postrehabologist is the development of their own post rehab protocols. Just as many orthopedic surgeons have their protocol for ACL reconstruction, the same should eventually emerge for Postrehabologists.
The protocol-based approach may also apply to administrative tasks. Instead of using the term protocols, I prefer the term ‘systems’. I recommend establishing systems for:
- new client intake,
- documentation and communication,
- marketing,
- scheduling,
- billing, and
- equipment maintenance.
The combination of systems and protocols allows you to put your practice on automatic pilot and maximize your post rehab training skills and business profits without losing your professionalism and/or creativity.
Recent Comments