物理治疗师如何预防未来的健康问题
📖 逐句对照翻译
Many of us might only seek out physical therapists if we are recovering from accidental injuries or surgery.
我们许多人可能只有在意外受伤或手术后康复时，才会寻求物理治疗师的帮助。
However, medical experts say these specialists can also help prevent many health problems if they are seen on a regular basis.
然而，医学专家表示，如果定期就诊，这些专科医生还可以帮助预防许多健康问题。
One leader in the industry, Sharon Dunn, even calls physical therapists “the best-kept secret in health care.”
业内一位领军人物莎伦·邓恩甚至称物理治疗师为“医疗保健领域最不为人知的秘密”。
Dunn is the past president of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
邓恩是美国物理治疗协会（APTA）的前任主席。
She recently told The Associated Press she thinks people need to look at physical therapists in a new way – as health practitioners who can help identify possible medical issues before they appear.
她最近告诉美联社，她认为人们需要以新的方式看待物理治疗师——将其视为能够在潜在医疗问题出现之前帮助识别这些问题的健康从业者。
Other health experts share this opinion.
其他健康专家也持相同观点。
They include Roger Herr, the current president of the APTA, and Gammon Earhart of Washington University in St. Louis.
他们包括现任APTA主席罗杰·赫尔，以及圣路易斯华盛顿大学的甘蒙·厄尔哈特。
They both shared Dunn’s prevention message in separate discussions with the AP.
他们在与美联社的分别讨论中都分享了邓恩的预防信息。
Follow the example of dental care
效仿牙齿护理的做法
Earhart urges people to think about physical therapists just as they do dentists.
埃尔哈特敦促人们像看待牙医一样看待物理治疗师。
“Even if you’re not having any problem, you go in and have everything checked out.”
即使你没有任何问题，也要进去做全面检查。
She noted that such examinations could help find and deal with problems early.
她指出，此类检查有助于及早发现并处理问题。
For example, an exam could include a patient’s health history and current health – things like physical activity, sleep, nutrition, and so on.
例如，一次检查可能包括患者的健康史和当前健康状况——诸如身体活动、睡眠、营养等方面。
This could be followed by a look at how a person is moving.
接下来可以观察一个人的动作方式。
Exams might uncover things like postural issues or unusual body movements.
考试可能会发现姿势问题或异常的身体动作。
Herr is a big supporter of yearly wellness visits.
赫尔先生是年度健康体检的坚定支持者。
He told the AP he believes physical therapists can be helpful for all kinds of people – the young, athletes, or anyone who wants to be as “independent as possible.”
他告诉美联社，他相信物理治疗师对各类人群都有帮助——无论是年轻人、运动员，还是任何希望尽可能“独立”的人。
Think prevention
思考预防
In the United States, you can now visit a physical therapist in all 50 states without needing permission from a doctor or surgeon.
在美国，现在你无需医生或外科医生的许可，就能在所有50个州看物理治疗师。
However, a yearly exam might not be covered by a person’s health insurance.
然而，年度体检可能不在个人医疗保险的覆盖范围内。
This could prevent some from seeking out care.
这可能会阻止一些人寻求护理。
Earhart estimated such a visit in areas across the U.S. Midwest might cost around $150.
埃尔哈特估计，在美国中西部各地区进行这样一次访问大约需要花费150美元。
Herr suggested a cost of $200-$300 in more costly areas.
赫尔建议在成本较高的地区费用为200至300美元。
But both experts said that in the long run, such exams might save money and can add healthy years.
但两位专家都表示，从长远来看，这类检查可能节省费用，并能增加健康寿命。
“I think if people understood more that the way they move might be setting them up for a problem down the line, they’d be much more inclined to see a physical therapist,” Earhart said.
厄哈特说：“我认为，如果人们能更清楚地认识到，自己的行动方式可能会在未来给自己埋下隐患，他们就会更愿意去看理疗师。”
The hips for ballet — or not
芭蕾舞者的胯部——或者不是
We are all built differently.
我们每个人都是独一无二的。
So, it might be useful to examine children early to see what sports or activities might be good for them.
因此，尽早观察孩子，了解哪些运动或活动可能适合他们，或许会很有帮助。
Physical therapists can carry out such early exams.
物理治疗师可以进行这样的早期检查。
Earhart said, “If we screened kids as they were choosing sports and said this sport is probably not the right kind of stress for the way you are put together, it could save a lot pain and problems down the line.”
埃尔哈特说：“如果我们能在孩子选择运动项目时进行筛查，并告诉他们这项运动可能不适合你的体质所承受的压力类型，那么就可以在以后避免许多痛苦和问题。”
She added about children, “Maybe they don’t have the hips for ballet.”
她谈到孩子们时说：“也许他们的髋部不适合跳芭蕾。”
Distance runners could also think this way.
长跑运动员也可以这样想。
Some are built to avoid injuries despite running many kilometers while others are not.
有些跑鞋即使跑了很多公里也能避免受伤，而有些则不能。
Exams by physical therapists could help identify future problems.
物理治疗师的检查有助于发现未来的问题。
Fear of falling and issues with weight
害怕跌倒和体重问题
Another area where physical therapists can help is with fall prevention.
物理治疗师能提供帮助的另一个领域是预防跌倒。
Falling – and the fear of falling – can be major issues, especially for the aging population.
跌倒——以及对跌倒的恐惧——可能成为重大问题，尤其对老年人群而言。
“You want to show people they can get back up if they fall,” Herr said.
“你想让人们看到，即使跌倒了也能重新站起来，”赫尔说。
“And once they know they can do it, it gives them confidence and it can help reduce the fear of falling.
一旦他们知道自己能做到，就会增强信心，有助于减少对跌倒的恐惧。
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He added, “One of the risks of falling is that people don’t do anything, so you don’t move and therefore you become more out of shape...”
他补充道：“跌倒的风险之一在于人们什么都不做，所以你不活动，因此身体变得更差……”
Herr said one example could be to introduce exercises involving “floor to stand” movements.
赫尔表示，一个例子可以是引入涉及“从地板到站立”动作的练习。
These can help improve flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, and planning.
这些有助于提高灵活性、力量、平衡、协调和规划能力。
“It sounds simple getting up from a lying position on the floor to stand,” Herr said.
赫尔说：“从躺在地板上的姿势起身站立，听起来很简单。”
“But it’s a great exercise for all age groups.”
但这对所有年龄段的人来说都是一项很好的锻炼。
Earhart estimated about half of physical therapy patients seek help to deal with issues related to being overweight.
埃尔哈特估计，约有一半的物理治疗患者寻求帮助是为了解决与超重相关的问题。
“The more weight somebody is carrying the higher the loads are on their joints,” she said.
她说：“一个人负重越大，关节承受的负荷就越高。”
Herr said he had watched extremely overweight patients successfully lose large amounts of weight.
赫尔说，他曾见过极度超重的病人成功减掉大量体重。
He noted that some of these individuals are motivated for a specific reason.
他指出，其中一些人是有特定动机的。
But for others, it is not always that clear and easy.
但对其他人来说，这并不总是那么清晰和容易。
“I have seen people change based on a milestone, like having a kid and they really want to be a good parent,” Herr said.
赫尔说：“我见过人们因为一个里程碑而改变，比如有了孩子，他们真的很想成为好父母。”
“They want to be a fit parent, and the same thing with a grandparent. So that motivates people to engage because of a lifestyle change.”
他们想成为称职的父母，祖父母也是如此。因此，这种生活方式的改变促使人们参与其中。
I’m John Russell.
我是约翰·拉塞尔。
And I’m Jill Robbins.
我是吉尔·罗宾斯。
Stephen Wade reported on this story for the Associated Press.
斯蒂芬·韦德为美联社报道了这一事件。
John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.
约翰·拉塞尔为VOA英语学习频道改编了它。
