Health is Wealth
RCSI welcomes progress in physiotherapist referral for medical radiological procedures
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has welcomed the policy decision to permit physiotherapists to refer patients for medical radiological procedures, and the progress made in implementing this important new measure which will make it quicker for patients to access a diagnosis and begin their treatment.
Physiotherapist referral for medical radiological procedures results in fewer health professionals being involved in the patient pathway. At present, physiotherapists with advanced training can refer their patients for radiological investigations, such as X-ray, in several jurisdictions including England, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand.
Physiotherapists in Ireland will soon be invited to undertake advanced training which will allow them to refer their patients for radiological procedures. Initially, clinical specialist physiotherapists working in roles in specific clinical areas in the HSE are being invited to train for the authority to refer. In early 2025, application to the training programmes will then be opened more widely.
Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head of the RCSI School of Physiotherapy, said: “This is an important development which will lead to efficiencies in the patient pathway and reduce barriers to effective treatment for a range of musco-skeletal conditions.
“The evidence from the countries which already permit physiotherapist referral for radiological procedures is positive, with no serious adverse events reported and with many advantages for the patient and the health system,” added Professor McDonough.
An Expert Working Group was established in March 2024 to support the development and implementation of this policy. The group includes representation from Department of Health, Health Service Executive, CORU, UCD and the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.
Established in 1999, the RCSI School of Physiotherapy aims to educate professionally safe, competent, reflective and analytical physiotherapists.
Image: Jacob Ammentorp Lund/iStock
Many older adults focus on exercise and diet to stay healthy. But one of the worst offenders to health—poor balance—is often an afterthought. “I see a lot of older adults who are nonchalant about balance,” says Liz Moritz, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Unfortunately, imbalance is a common cause of falls, which send millions of people in the United States to emergency departments each year with broken hips and head injuries. But there are many things you can do to improve your balance. The strategies below are some of the most effective.
Physical therapy for balance focuses on the ability of the joints and brain to communicate, the balance system in the ear (the vestibular system), and vision. “We coordinate all three with exercises such as standing on one foot, first with the eyes open, and then with the eyes closed. We also work on joint flexibility, walking, and lower-extremity exercises on one or two legs,” says Moritz. Other exercises that boost balance include chair stands (see “Move of the month”) and squats. Make sure you get training before attempting these exercises at home.
“Core strength is very important for balance. If the abdominal muscles in your core are weak, they cannot support your limbs, especially when you’re walking. If the gluteal muscles in your buttocks and hips aren’t strong, they won’t be able to propel you forward,” says Moritz. Muscle strengthening can help. Moritz suggests starting with gentle core exercises like a pelvic tilt (lie on the floor with your knees bent up, then roll your pelvis up) and then moving to more intense exercises such as wall planks (stand six inches from a wall, keeping your body rigid, then lean forward with your forearms flat against the wall, and hold the position for 20 seconds). Leg lifts will strengthen the gluteal muscles, and adding resistance bands to leg lifts makes the exercise even more effective.
“Tai chi and yoga are exercises that make you pay attention to the control and quality of movement, rather than the quantity, which improves your balance,” says Moritz. In tai chi, you practice slow, flowing motions and shift your weight from one limb to another. Yoga incorporates a series of focused postures and breathing. Both exercises increase flexibility, range of motion, leg and core strength, and reflexes. The result: you become better at balancing in a number of different positions, which helps you avoid falling if you encounter uneven pavement or obstacles in your path.
“If you can’t see where you’re going, your fall risk goes up,” says Moritz. “A lot of people I treat for balance are here be-cause they tripped when they didn’t see something on the floor.” The fix may be as simple as a new eyeglasses prescription. Get a comprehensive, dilated eye exam every one or two years if you’re 65 or older, every one to three years if you’re age 55 to 64, and every two to four years if you’re 40 to 54. If you have an increased risk for other eye conditions, you may need an eye exam more often.
A cane or a walker can complement your balance and give you more stability and confidence walking. But don’t buy a device on your own. “If it’s too high or too low, that can cause a fall. You need to get it measured, and you need training to learn how to use it,” says Moritz. Training takes just a few physical therapy sessions. Walkers are available with wheels intended for different terrain, lockable brakes, seats, baskets, and other features such as headlights. Canes are available with various handgrips and bases.
Chartered Society of PhysiotherapyVerified account @thecsp 9 hours ago
#MondayMotivation: Albert Einstein said… ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.’ Sign up for our #LoveActivity resources to get the nation moving: http://bit.ly/2WrzXD9
A physical therapist says it boils down to two key things
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You may not realize it, but we all start losing 1 percent of muscle mass each year after age 30. That’s why your diet in later years should not look the same as it did when you were younger, says endocrinologist Susan Williams, MD.
Skipping breakfast, eating fast food and being inactive in your 20s and early 30s might not hurt your health in the short term. However, poor nutrition and lifestyle habits take their toll over time.
People who embrace good habits early on really get ahead of the game, Dr. Williams says. But it’s never too late to start eating better and taking better care of your body.
Whether you’re 30 or 50, Dr. Williams offers three important tips to get started in eating right when you are thinking about your long-term health.
RELATED: Do You Know How Much Exercise You Really Need?
A roller coaster of weight gain and loss can change your body composition and leave you with more fat mass and less lean muscle mass.
You also want to limit your snacks in between. The word “balanced” is especially important because eating a wide variety of foods will help you prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Dr. Williams suggests this simple shopping list:
Steer clear of cookies, cakes, pies, ice creams, juices and rich desserts. If that sounds like no fun, Dr. Williams advises treating these foods as treats. Save them for dining out or special occasions, but don’t make them part of your daily diet.
RELATED: Which Bread Is Best For You — Whole-Grain, Multigrain or Whole Wheat?
Eating protein and being physically active are equal partners in the quest for maximum health, Dr. Williams says. Muscles are made of protein, but simply eating protein is not enough to save them.
“Muscles in your body are a use-or-lose proposition,” she says. “You need to use them to keep them strong.”
Can’t carve out time for the gym? Try this daily routine:
Even a half hour of physical activity can make a world of difference, especially if you make it a habit in your 30s. “Don’t let your weight creep up while your muscle mass creeps down over your 30s and 40s,” Dr. Williams says. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get started — and the more muscle you will have already lost.
RCSI welcomes progress in physiotherapist referral for medical radiological procedures
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has welcomed the policy decision to permit physiotherapists to refer patients for medical radiological procedures, and the progress made in implementing this important new measure which will make it quicker for patients to access a diagnosis and begin their treatment.
Physiotherapist referral for medical radiological procedures results in fewer health professionals being involved in the patient pathway. At present, physiotherapists with advanced training can refer their patients for radiological investigations, such as X-ray, in several jurisdictions including England, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand.
Physiotherapists in Ireland will soon be invited to undertake advanced training which will allow them to refer their patients for radiological procedures. Initially, clinical specialist physiotherapists working in roles in specific clinical areas in the HSE are being invited to train for the authority to refer. In early 2025, application to the training programmes will then be opened more widely.
Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head of the RCSI School of Physiotherapy, said: “This is an important development which will lead to efficiencies in the patient pathway and reduce barriers to effective treatment for a range of musco-skeletal conditions.
“The evidence from the countries which already permit physiotherapist referral for radiological procedures is positive, with no serious adverse events reported and with many advantages for the patient and the health system,” added Professor McDonough.
An Expert Working Group was established in March 2024 to support the development and implementation of this policy. The group includes representation from Department of Health, Health Service Executive, CORU, UCD and the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.
Established in 1999, the RCSI School of Physiotherapy aims to educate professionally safe, competent, reflective and analytical physiotherapists.
Dr Nina Byrnes and Angela O’Donoghue likedOne of my favourite things is to do some exercises with patients. Basic stuff for knee or shoulder pain but it is so rewarding to have something to offer other than tablets. Someday there will be a gym in my practice with physical therapists and I will be prescribing exercise.
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