Abstract
A 46-year-old female patient status post open reduction internal fixation for an intertrochanteric hip fracture was seen by a student physical therapist for 10 sessions over 6 weeks at an outpatient physical therapy clinic under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
The patient was examined at the initial encounter with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, goniometry, manual muscle testing, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Berg Balance Scale, the Patient Specific Functional Scale, use of assistive device, gait, and Well’s Criteria. A plan of care was established to address pain, weakness, functional limitations, and gait. Main goals for the patient were to improve pain, range of motion, strength, ambulate without an assistive device, and return to full-time work as a project manager for the United States Forest Service. Main interventions used were neuromuscular re-education, ambulation training, and progressive strengthening. The patient achieved the following goals: improved pain, improved lower extremity strength, ambulation without an assistive device, and return to work full-time. The patient was discharged to continue living at home with an independent home exercise program.