Wellness in Pediatric Physical Therapy

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) included advocating for wellness and preventive health care of the public in our code of ethics (APTA, 2013). It is therefore well within our role as health professionals to incorporate health and wellness strategies in the implementation of our plan of care for each patient we encounter. The Office of Health Disease and Prevention (2015) in its Healthy People 2020 progress update reported that obesity in children and adolescents increased by 0.8% in 2009-2012 from 16.1% in 2005-2008. This reflects a need to modify behaviors regarding obesity and working towards improving the health of the pediatric population.

 Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, and Flegal (2010) reported that approximately 10% of children less than 2 years, and 17% of those aged 2-19 years are overweight or obese. Current research informs us that weight-related health problems are more effectively managed in children, and that long-lasting change is more likely expected because behaviors are more easily changed in children (Niemeier, Hektner, & Enger, 2012, p. 4). I believe that as a pediatric physical therapist, I have access to a support system that can truly effect a positive change in weight-related health behaviors in children. This includes the close relationship I have with referring physicians and nutritionists. I always make it a point to refer the families of children with disabilities to a nutritionist, most especially if the child is underweight or overweight.  Lamberg and McKenna (2011) reported the success of after-school wellness programs that provide nutritional counselling combined with physical activity and healthy lifestyle education (p. 1). Jain and Langwith (2013) also presented the success of school-based obesity interventions geared towards improving health behaviors including reducing caloric intake and increasing physical activity.

We have to attain a better understanding of the crucial role that preventive health care and wellness plays in our patients’ continuum of care. By incorporating the dimensions of wellness into our intervention strategies, we are afforded a greater likelihood of attaining optimal outcome measures for every patient we encounter. The importance is magnified even greater in pediatrics and I am given this opportunity as a pediatric physical therapist to effect significant positive behavioral changes in every child I see and help improve the health of the pediatric population.

 References

American Physical Therapy Association. (2013). Code of ethics for the physical therapist. Retrieved from http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/Ethics/CodeofEthics.pdf

 Lamberg, E. M., & McKenna, R. F. (2011). Development of an after-school wellness club to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle. Internet Journal Of Allied Health Sciences & Practice, 9(1), 1-10. Retrieved from http://ijahsp.nova.edu/articles/Vol9Num1/pdf/lamberg.pdf

 Niemeier, B., Hektner, J., & Enger, K. (2012). Parent participation in weight-related health interventions for children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine, 55(1), 3-13. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.04.021

 Office of Health Disease and Prevention (2014, March). Healthy people 2020 leading health indicators: Progress update. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/sites/default/files/LHI-ProgressReport-ExecSum_0.pdf

 Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., Lamb, M. M., & Flegal, K. M. (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 303(3), 242-249. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.2012