Becca Jordre, DPT, GCS, an expert in aging athletes, joins this week’s episode of PT Elevated alongside our hosts Kory Zimney and Paul Mintken. Jordre is an associate professor at the University of South Dakota in the Department of Physical Therapy. During her 13 year teaching career, her research has focused on healthy aging, and she screens and analyzes athletes for the National Senior Games Association (NSGA).
Listen in to hear Jordre and our hosts discuss what peaked her interest to begin researching the aging population, how to screen and treat aging athletes differently than the general aging population, specific free screening tools for aging athletes, the big mistakes clinicians make when they are treating the aging population, and a lot more.
Here are some of the highlights:
Aging athletes are different than those who are sedentary. They start at a higher level of function and although they are still aging, they need to be treated differently.
PTs as a profession need to be more creative is creating programs to keep aging athletes strong and healthy to safely play their sport. As always, pay attention to what your aging patient does and does not want to do to achieve their fitness goals.
Aging athlete have the same weaknesses based on their sport as younger athletes, the deficiencies are just magnified. Create your plan based on what their sport is to properly serve their needs.
PTs sometimes underestimate aging athletes and assume they have everything they need but they are underserved athletes that are different from the aging population and should be treated as such.
Safety is a priority and aging athletes decline regardless of how active they are, so you should always listen to what they want and base your plan off their goals.
Becca Jordre’s Research:
Fall History and Associated Physical Performance Measures in Competitive Senior Athletes
Five Times Sit to Stand Test in Senior Athletes
Keep Them in the Game CPTJ Published Ahead of Print
Aging Athlete Screening Tools:
NSGA’s Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) Instructions
NSGA’s Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
Becca Jordre’s clinical pearl on aging athletes: Physical therapists are so well trained as movement specialists and PTs need to feel empowered to advocate for their patients with referring providers and push for their patients to get back to being active and educate other health care providers on what is possible with physical therapy.
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