Course Description:

Physical therapists commonly treat older adults in the post-acute setting, specifically home health and outpatient. Geriatric clients often present with one or more cardiopulmonary conditions, either as the reason for the referral to physical therapy or as a comorbidity that may affect the client’s ability to participate in and benefit from physical therapy. It is critical that a physical therapist working in a post-acute setting be able to accurately evaluate a client’s cardiopulmonary system and then make appropriate clinical decisions regarding appropriateness of exercise based on this information. This webinar will focus on proper technique to obtain vital signs (pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure) as well as heart and lung sounds. Based on the interpretation of the results of a cardiopulmonary examination, appropriate clinical decisions regarding beginning/terminating exercise will be discussed through case studies.