PT Vs Nursing

Presented by:
Nichole Carreon
 Question?
Why is wound care now more of a physical
therapy role instead of a nurse’s role?
What sparked the change?
How much teaching do Physical therapists
get in wound care?
More patients with wounds are in
a physical therapy program
PT work with patients and are
able to identify potential or
existing problems
Most are trained as Certified
Wound Specialist (CWS)
 PT role in wound care

A physical therapists role is to promote a patients

optimal strength and physical abilities. There is a
need to help patients with long term wound care as
this can cause a patient to become more debilitated
by causing more weakness or imbalance. Once
these patients become disabled, they often inquire
more wounds by sitting for long periods of time in a
wheelchair or from lying in bed for long periods of
time. Physical therapists not only rehabilitate patients
back to health but also need to know the proper
training in dealing with wounds.
 PT role in wound care

Physical therapist use many different

methods in wound care such as, proper
dressing of a wound to promote healing,
evaluating the wound, and different
modalities that help in the wound healing
process. Care and transferring of the
patients with wounds, and also in the
teaching of the patient and family
members about how to care for and what
to look for in a wound.
 Modalities
Ultrasound
- The sound waves of ultrasound are transmitted to the
surrounding tissue and vasculature. They penetrate the
muscles to cause deep tissue and muscle warming,
promoting tissue relaxation for muscle tightness and
spasms. The warming effect of the sound waves also
cause vessel vasodilatation and increase circulation to
the area that assists in healing. You can also adjust the
frequency on the machine to use waves that will
decrease inflammation.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

- A small machine that uses electrical transmission to
reduce pain. Electrodes are placed around wound and
the electrical current sends a tingling sensation to the
underlying skin and muscle disrupting the pain signal.
 Modalities
Electrical Stimulation
- An electrical current is used to cause a single muscle or a group of
muscles to contract. Contracting the muscle by electrical stimulation
helps strengthen the affected muscle. The physical therapist can
change the current setting to allow for a forceful or gentle muscle
contraction. Along with increasing muscle strength, the contraction of
the muscle also promotes blood supply to the area that assists in
healing.
Whirlpool
- You can submerge just an extremity or the whole body. A whirlpool
can promote, vasodilatation, increase blood flow, softening or loosing
of necrotic tissue, used as mechanical debridement, and pain
management
Hyperbaric Oxygen
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a significant increase in tissue
oxygenation in the hypoperfused, infected wound. It influences the
rate of collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and bacterial clearance in
wounds. The greatest benefits are achieved in tissues with
compromised blood flow and oxygen supply.
 PT training in wound care
Some get certifications to become Wound Care
Specialists.

Go to seminars and workshops to earn CEU’s and

continue their education on the newest information
on wound care.
-Basic Wound Care
-Dressings
-Assessment, Measurement and documentation
-Wound healing process
- Products that help in wound care
 What Sparked the Change?

?
- It takes a whole team to Help in the wound care process.
-Nurses can provide wound care along with medication
therapies. They are the communication between
patients, staff, physicians, therapists.
The End
 References
http://www.extendedcarenews.com/article/446

http://www.medicaledu.com/ptmodes.htm

http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/abbre
viationsandterms/p/Modalities.htm