Week 9:
Twin Cities Orthopedics

July 27, 2013

Twin Cities Orthopedics Physical Therapy has many patients who come and go with therapy once they have met the goals of their rehabilitation. These patients vary in age from young teen athletes to elderly who are living with arthritis. However, due to insurance coverage some patients are no longer able to afford therapy even though they still require the exercise program. For many young athletes, insurance will cover therapy until the patient meets the basic goals of walking without assistance, regain balance, and are able to climb stairs. Once these goals are met, the patient is still not ready to return to daily physical activity. Twin Cities Physical Therapy created a program called ACE which helps athletes transition from rehab to competitive training. This week I learned what this program entails and how the programs benefits the patients.

The ACE program focuses on balance, stability, and strength. Patients are initially tested with balance, jump and strengthening tests typically comparing the surgical from non-surgical limb. The program is 8 weeks, once a week for an hour. Physical therapists create a unique program for each patient because each patient struggles in one area more than others. The exercises in the ACE program are more advanced than regular physical therapy but the goals remain very similar; focusing mostly on stability, balance, and strength of muscles that are typically weak. ACE is designed to makes athletes feel confident that they will not get re-injured or favor one side when they return to the court of the field.

Spending my time this week with the physical therapists that are in charge of the ACE program allowed me to see the sports side of physical therapy and yet another possible career path once I obtain my degree.