Introduction to Physical Therapy
Dr. Gina Richardson completed her comprehensive education at the A.L.H.C.S. She graduated in 2011 from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. After passing the state boards, she became licensed in New York City and New Jersey. Dr. Richardson completed her internships in: Acute Care at Brookdale Hospital, Out patient private practice (Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center, Community Physical Therapy), Spinal Cord Injury at Mount Sinai Hospital. She worked at Community Physical Therapy offices in Brooklyn and in Queens. At the Queen’s office she was fortunate to work with her professor who has over 45 years of clinical experience in the field of Physical Therapy. Work experience also included: Travel Physical Therapy assignment at Ivy Rehab in NJ, and home healthcare at Metropolitian Jewish Homecare Services (MJHS) in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Dr. Gina Richardson, has returned to Anguilla as a licensed Physical Therapist and will be providing services at various locations including Hughes Medical Center and Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence.
Who is a Physical Therapist (PT)
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and health, enabling individuals of all ages to have optimal functioning and quality of life, while applying evidence to provide efficient and effective care.
In addition, PTs are involved in promoting health, wellness, and fitness by identifying the risk factors and implementing a service to reduce risk, slow the progression of or prevent functional decline and disability.
PTs recognize professional development, continuing competence, and lifelong learning as integral to the provision of current, evidence-based, high-quality patient care. The practice crosses the entire human lifespan from neonatal to frail elderly.
Specialty areas include cardiovascular (heart) and pulmonary (lungs) physical therapy, geriatrics (elderly), neurology (nervous system) i.e Strokes, Parkinsons Disease, Spinal Cord Injuries, orthopedics (bones & muscles), pediatrics (children), sports i.e cycling, tennis, martial arts, running, basketball, weight training and volleyball.
PT and Research
Evidence-based therapy practice is the foundation for our treatments. This is a combination of scientific research, clinical reasoning and the individual’s goals and needs. Clinical research helps the practitioner keep up to date with the latest in practice methods, technology and opportunities.
Armed with the knowledge gained from clinical research, a physical therapist can demonstrate that the methodology employed has been tested, subjected to peer review and has been used within the rehabilitation community.
Benefits of PT
PT is a science-based profession that focuses on correcting movement dysfunction. Yes, physical therapists employ massage techniques in treating their patients. Pain, muscle tension and other conditions respond well to massge, but it is just one modality in a long list of procedures that PTs carry out.
PTs also treat the entire body depending on what is clinically required. By using their hands to perform joint and soft tissue mobilizations as well as other techniques customized for each patient, they can eliminate pain and reduce tension while improving function.
Other physical therapy functions:
1. Improve endurance and overall fitness level for work or play through exercise, manual techniques and other activities.
2. Strengthen and develop key muscles needed for optimum performance in sport.
3. Correct muscle imbalance that may adversely impact gait.
4. Improve postural imbalance that may later cause neck and back pain.
5. Provide stretching exercises to increase range-of-motion and flexibility.
6. Assist in toning and firming muscles for better appearance.
7. Design environments that are ergonomically safe.
8. Provide you with the tools to help you get the most out of your life.
9. Decrease pain and stiffness in arthritis sufferers
10. Re-educate muscles and improve function in neurologically-impaired patients.
One of the roles of a Physical Therapist is to ensure that patients are knowledgeable of their condition. The first step to recovery is to understand your disorder; therefore, patient education is key. Keeping patients informed about why they are receiving treatment and what to expect goes a long way in achieving success. Obviously, there is a lot more that can be said about the role of physical therapy in health care. Why not come in and see for yourself?
Call Dr. Richardson for more information, or to make an appointment contact:
Hughes Medical Centre
Lower South Hill
Anguilla
Tel # (264) 497- 3053
Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence
South Hill
Anguilla
Tel # (264) 497- 0765
Family Health Center
Fairplay Complex
The Valley
Anguilla
Tel# (264) 584-3030
Via email:gina richardsondpt@gmail.com
There will be other monthly articles to follow regarding Physical Therapy.
