Recording available after event
The growing number of older adults in the U.S. is accompanied by an increasing presence of multimorbidity—having two or more chronic health conditions. Multimorbidity significantly restricts functional mobility, which concurrently increases the risk of functional decline and social isolation. While prescribing physical activity is a crucial task for physical therapy providers to help prevent this decline, many providers struggle with finding the right dosage of physical activity and scaling physical activity appropriately for their patients. This difficulty often stems from feeling uncertain about their scope of practice, lacking specific knowledge, or not having adequate support from professional organizations. Although prescribing activity for individuals with complex, coexisting conditions can be challenging for physical therapists and overwhelming for patients, physical therapists are uniquely qualified to customize these programs. To better serve their patients, physical therapy providers need relevant education on tailoring physical activity for individuals with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, Long COVID, or those dealing with fall risk, frailty, and osteoporosis. This presentation will provide current, evidence-based strategies, including clinical guidelines and motivational techniques, to help clinicians confidently prescribe physical activity for older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
