How can you integrate functional training programs into a broader care continuum?

1 What is a care continuum?

A care continuum is a framework that describes the different stages and levels of health care that a person may need or receive throughout their life. It can range from prevention and wellness to acute and chronic care, and from primary and secondary care to tertiary and quaternary care. A care continuum also considers the settings and providers that deliver the care, such as hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, and fitness facilities. A care continuum aims to provide coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care that meets the individual needs and preferences of each person.

2 Why is functional training important in a care continuum?

Functional training is important in a care continuum because it can help people improve their functional capacity, mobility, balance, strength, endurance, and coordination. These are essential skills for performing daily tasks, maintaining independence, and preventing falls and injuries. Functional training can also help people prevent or manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Functional training can also support people who are transitioning from one level or setting of care to another, such as from hospital to home, or from rehabilitation to fitness. Functional training can help them regain their confidence, adapt to their environment, and resume their activities.

3 How can you integrate functional training programs into a care continuum?

One way to integrate functional training programs into a care continuum is to collaborate with other health care professionals and providers who are involved in the care of your clients or patients. For example, you can communicate with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers to understand the goals, needs, and challenges of each person. You can also share your functional training plans, progress, and outcomes with them to ensure consistency and continuity of care. You can also refer your clients or patients to other appropriate services or resources that can support their functional training, such as nutrition counseling, mental health counseling, or community programs.

4 How can you educate and advocate for your clients or patients?

Another way to integrate functional training programs into a care continuum is to educate and advocate for your clients or patients. You can educate them about the benefits of functional training, how it can help them achieve their goals, and what to expect from the sessions. You can also educate them about the principles and components of functional training, such as specificity, variability, intensity, frequency, duration, and progression. You can also educate them about the safety and injury prevention aspects of functional training, such as proper form, technique, equipment, and warm-up and cool-down. You can also advocate for your clients or patients by encouraging them to participate in functional training, motivating them to adhere to the program, and providing them with feedback and support. You can also advocate for them by raising awareness and promoting functional training among other health care professionals and providers, as well as among their family and friends.

5 How can you evaluate and improve your functional training programs?

A final way to integrate functional training programs into a care continuum is to evaluate and improve your functional training programs. You can evaluate your functional training programs by using various methods and tools, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, assessments, and outcome measures. You can use these methods and tools to collect and analyze data on the satisfaction, engagement, retention, and results of your clients or patients. You can also use these methods and tools to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your functional training programs. You can improve your functional training programs by using the data and feedback to make changes, adjustments, and enhancements to your functional training plans, methods, techniques, and materials. You can also improve your functional training programs by seeking and applying new knowledge, skills, and best practices in functional training.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?