Researchers implore us to measure forces used in rehabilitation, so why don't we? A clash of culture vs. science, and what this means for evidence-based practice.

Do you measure your patient's ability to produce or manage forces? Why or why not?

Ours is a profession of movement-oriented focus, and yet it often lacks investigation of basic concepts vital to movement, i.e. the forces involved. This is true regarding the ability to produce and control movement, and the decision-making processes regarding how much to prescribe and why. These issues are fundamentally relevant to rehabilitation activities, and daily life. So, why do we do the things that we do? And, why do we not do other things that make sense? Join me as I discuss these and other ideas that will help sharpen our focus on issues related to dosing, modifying, and monitoring our work to improve the care we provide to our patients and, over time, improve our outcomes. 

REFERENCES

Dominguez-Romero JG, Jiménez-Rejano JJ, Ridao-Fernández C, Chamorro-Moriana G. Exercise-Based Muscle Development Programmes and Their Effectiveness in the Functional Recovery of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: a Systematic Review. Diagnostics. 2021;11:529.

Souza LA, Martins JC, Moura JB, Teixeira-Salmela LF, De Paula FV, Faria CD. Assessment of muscular strength with the modified sphygmomanometer test: what is the best method and source of outcome values?. Braz J Phys Ther. 2014;18(2):191-200. 

Mueller MJ, Maluf KS. Tissue adaptation to physical stress: a proposed "Physical Stress Theory" to guide physical therapist practice, education, and research. Phys Ther. 2002;82(4):383-403.

White JM. Mechanobiologically Oriented Rehabilitation of a Complex, Comminuted, Displaced Acetabular Fracture in a 70-Year-Old Medically Complicated Patient: a Case Report. JOSPT Cases. 2021;1(3):185-196. doi:10.2519/josptcases.2021.10266