Nutrition for Pain & Joint Health for PTs

This course has been Approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Massachusetts for: 2.00 CREDITS

Background: Robust evidence supports the implementation of nutritional counseling in physical therapy (PT) education and practice, particularly with regard to the treatment of chronic pain. This course is designed to cover effective, evidence-based nutrition interventions for chronic pain and joint health which can easily be employed within your PT practice.

The following topics will be presented:

• • Nutrition and physical therapy within the whole-person approach to pain management
  • Nutritional counseling within the PT framework and scope of practice
  • Relationship between nutrition and pain
    • Featured example: osteoarthritis
    • 10 mechanisms of interaction between nutrition and pain
    • Practical practice takeaways for whole-food-based dietary interventions for PTs
  • Nutritional supplementation
  • Overview of medical nutrition therapy for joint pain

Objectives: At the end of this workshop, the learner will be able to:

1. Understand the role of nutrition within the whole-person approach to pain management
2. Know how general nutritional counseling integrates within the PT scope of practice
3. Identify at least 2 mechanisms by which nutrition can impact the pain experience
4. Identify at least 2 ways by which nutrition can impact joint health
5. Understand the difference between general nutritional counseling and medical nutrition therapy
6. Explain the tenants of a whole-food, Mediterranean-style diet and how this intervention may positively impact pain management and joint health
7. Explain the potential risks of supplements
8. Assess the need for a referral for medical nutrition therapy for joint pain