January 02nd, 2025

Prairie Doc Perspective Week of December 29th, 2024
“Save and Preserve through movement”
By Carter Holm, RN
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being while movement and methodical physical exercise saves and preserves it”. Plato said that some 2300 years ago. It is not news to anyone that moving the body is the best way to stay healthy. But sometimes life gets in the way, whether in the form of a motor vehicle accident, a nerve condition like Guillain-Barre syndrome, or a health condition like a stroke, there are times in life when knowing that exercise is good for you is not enough. And it is during those times that physical therapy becomes crucial. 
My work in inpatient rehab places me directly in connection to a wonderful team of physical therapists, and I see first-hand the role they play in helping our patients overcome adversity. Strengthening the muscles is just one aspect of their jobs, they must also help the patients learn to adapt. For example, if an elderly patient has a stroke, in addition to helping the patient work on strengthening the affected side, therapists are tasked with optimizing the patient’s abilities, while helping them overcome their disabilities. They do this is tons of different ways, including introducing adaptive equipment, like walkers, canes, crutches, hemi-walkers, slide boards, etc.. They also help train patients in alternative lifestyle changes, sometimes the best way to overcome a problem is to find a workaround, and physical therapists are experts at problem solving with their patients, and coming up with safe and effective ways to help them improve.
Luckily, exercise is its own reward, and my patients almost always feel better, although a little worn out, after a good session. And this is because our body rewards itself with neurotransmitters following physical activity. Endorphins are released giving people that ‘runner’s high’ sensation, endorphins can relieve pain, reduce stress, improve mood and overall feelings of wellbeing. Working with physical therapists can cause a patient to release dopamine, the ‘feel good’ hormone, which causes improved mood, increased attentiveness, and can even improve memory and learning. Exercise also releases serotonin, which combats depression, improves sleep-wake cycles, and plays a role in digestive health. In my line of work we often talk about pre-medicating the patient, giving a pain medication before the patient needs to do something physically taxing. But it is striking how rarely we need to give pain medications after a patient finishes working with PT. Nature has taken care or that, by providing a built in system of pain relievers, mood improvers, and anti-depressants that accompany exercise.
Every patient is different, and so is the plan of care developed by the therapy team. If you or a loved one is dealing with a health condition that may require physical therapy, I want to be a calming voice or assurance, the therapist or team of therapists will customize a plan of care focused on the patient’s specific needs, that will help them adapt to changes, regain what they can, and improve the patient’s wellbeing. 
Carter Holm, RN is a Registered Nurse at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls Specializing in inpatient rehabilitation. Holm is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and works with patients through their rehabilitation from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and trauma. Follow The Prairie Doc® at www.prairiedoc.org and on Facebook and instagram featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show celebrating its 23rd season of health information based on science, built on trust, streaming live on Facebook most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.