Disney Sees the Benefit of On-Site Therapy

Therapists Keep Disney Cast Members Fit and Safe

Athletic trainers and physical therapy specialists from St Joseph Hospital, Orange, Calif, have combined their expertise as part of a "partnership" between the hospital and Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif, that has created an athletic training program for the resort's employees or "cast members," helping the "Happiest Place on Earth" be one of the healthiest places as well.

Designed for Disney's hundreds of entertainment cast members (who must maintain exceptional physical endurance), the program found its roots with the entertainment division nearly 15 years ago, and is one of a number of integrated efforts that have helped to decrease work-related entertainment injuries at Disneyland Resort by one-third over the past 10 years. The resort's additional 20,000 cast members, who range from food service to custodial to merchandise, are also coached by St Joseph's athletic trainers.

Currently, 22 athletic trainers work at the Disneyland Resort, six on the operations team, 15 on the entertainment team, and an athletic training coordinator. The athletic coordinator, along with the resort's safety team, oversees the athletic training program with support from physical and occupational therapists.

In addition, rehabilitation therapists from St Joseph Hospital work on-site at the resort, evaluating and treating cast members in order to prevent work-related injuries. Also, job-site assessments are performed to evaluate cast members and their work areas to review body mechanics and provide tips on how they can more safely perform their work duties.

"It takes an entire team of athletic trainers to take care of all of the cast members at the resort," says Janay Coleman, a parade dancer. "They help us avoid injuries. There's always someone nearby to make sure I'm OK, and they're even there to assist us with nutrition guidance."

Ref: http://www.rehabpub.com/RMN/2009-11-16_02.asp

Physical Therapist Offer Low-Cost Solution to Increasing Health Costs

Put out by the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapist for immediate release:

February 14, 2008

Health care expenditures for patients with spinal conditions are rising without an associated increase in health status, according to a February, 2008 research report appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study suggest that Americans may be wasting their money for treatments as the overall proportion of people with impaired function increased from 1997 - 2005, despite a 65% increase in expenditures to treat spine conditions...

"I think the truth is we have perhaps oversold what we have to offer," said Richard A. Deyo, a physician at Oregan Health & Science University in Portland and a coauthor of the report. "All the imaging we do, all the drug treatments, all the injections, all the operations have some benefit for some patients. But I think in each of those situations we've begun using those tests or treatments more widely than science would really support."

Particularly discouraging in this recent report was an increase in pharmaceutical expenditures of 171% during the study period. This suggest that physicians are over-utilizing an ineffective treatment for spine pain.

"You have drugs, you have surgery, or you have us," explained Flynn. "The reality is that very few treatments have shown the ability to truly affect patients with spine conditions. Physical therapists can do just that.

A separate study in 2006 demonstrated that patients with back pain were experiencing an increase in the rates of imaging and injections, meanwhile realizing a significant under-utilization of physical therapy.

For more information on the benefits of physical therapy and what they can do for you within the bounds of on-site physical therapy or for your family, please seek out your on-site physical therapist or call 1-877-836-8652