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There are several key reasons that the proper monitoring of treatment outcomes are a crucial part of healthcare benefits and disability claims. Accurate data from treatment outcomes plays an important part in ensuring that a patient is on the right path to successful treatment. In the past, treatment outcomes were based on observational studies, and were limited to the scope of the physician’s analysis.
The approach used to evaluate impairment by the American Medical Association has continued to evolve since its initial publishing in 1976, with their Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (or AMA Guides) mandated for use in many worker’s compensation systems.
What is “Range of Motion?”
Range of Motion, or ROM, refers to the movement of a joint, from its full flexion (bent at its natural angle) to its full extension. Each joint, including the spine has a normal range of motion. In the case of a joint or spinal injury, range of motion can be hindered or even reduced due to tissue damage and/or swelling
The simplest everyday functions rely on the flexibility of our joints and muscles. And when your joints and/or muscles are injured, even the most basic tasks can be compromised. Muscles can only work on a moving joint, making your flexibility primary and your strength secondary.
In the event of an injury, range of motion (ROM) and muscle testing are essential to developing a proper treatment plan, one that is tailored to the unique needs of the individual. Manual range of motion testing can be subjective, as well as time-consuming. Insurance reimbursement and disability claims require accurate results that are precise and detailed, and must demonstrate a need for care.
Do you have undiagnosed chronic shoulder pain? Has someone suggested to you that it might be a rotator cuff tear? How do you distinguish between the two?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an ideal means to identify the cause of shoulder pain. MRI uses a magnetic field, radio frequency pulses, and a computer to take detailed pictures of internal body structures. MRI gives clear views of tendon tears and damage to the glenoid labrum, the cartilage ring surrounding the shoulder socket. Swelling and bleeding can also be visualized.
In addition to MRI scanning, a physician or physical therapist can perform specific manual tests to obtain a diagnosis for chronic shoulder pain.
CAUSES OF CHRONIC SHOULDER PAIN
Shoulder pain is considered chronic when it has lasted more than six months. There are generally five major categories of causes:
TENDON INFLAMMATION – There are two types of tendon inflammation, bursitis and tendonitis.
Range of motion is a term that is used to describe a joint’s full movement potential. It is also referred to as ROM. Range of motion research has shown that improving your ROM can decrease your chances of getting injured. Improving your range of motion also makes it easier for you to keep your balance. Furthermore, an improvement in ROM can help improve athletic performance.
New range of motion research has shown that people who get a therapeutic massage can improve their ROM. The study involved 60 patients who were between the ages of 37 and 82. All of the participants had suffered from neck pain. The subjects were placed in one of two groups. One of the groups received physical therapy and kinesiotherapy. The other group involved in the range of motion research study received massages.
Range of motion is important because it can be helpful in preventing injuries to certain joints. Often when injuries occur, they result from having a limited range of motion. When people become injured, they find it harder to resume their normal daily routines. If a person becomes injured, the joint can become fixated or hypermobile, both of which cause discomfort to the patient.
Several ways to use range of motion to your advantage on a daily basis:
The term “range of motion” refers to the direction and distance that a particular joint in a person’s body can move between its flexed position and its extended position. Using specialized exercises to increase this distance can also be considered range of motion.
Factors affecting Range of Motion:
Why is Range of Motion important?
Simply put, the range of motion in your joints affects your quality of life. Range of motion is connected to your overall flexibility – without that flexibility it can be difficult to perform simple everyday tasks. Over time, bad posture habits or body movements, as well as disease or injury, can affect your Range of Motion.
Advances in technology have made a significant impact in the healthcare industry, affecting how consumers obtain information, as well as communicating with their healthcare professionals and insurance agencies.
Consumers are increasingly turning to the Internet to educate themselves on various healthcare topics, research illness or disease, and searching for a physicians or health care facility. The Internet also provides a convenient means of locating the nearest pharmacy or medical clinic, printing out the required forms to bring to a doctor’s visit, filling out online applications for insurance or Medicare, or filing medical or insurance claims. Simply put, today’s technology and the wealth of information available on the Internet can make things simple and convenient for consumers.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals just how much of an impact technology has had in the field of healthcare. According to the study:
A healthy range of motion is important for those with an active lifestyles and those who are sedentary due to illness or injury.
Having a healthy range of motion means that your joints feel limber and loose, as opposed to tight and immobile (the way you may feel when you wake up in the morning before stretching). The benefits include: