Patient is Permanently Injured by Soft Tissue Stimulation Device

Case Overview

This case takes place in California and involves a male patient in is mid-twenties who experiences recurrent heart issues after receiving treatment from a physical therapist. The patient was being treated for a chest injury with the defending physical therapist at the time of the initial incident. The PT was using a soft tissue mobilization system with electrodes placed around the patient’s chest in an attempt to treat his injury. The PT momentarily left the room on one occasion while this therapy was being administered, and the patient started to have racing of the heart and palpitations. Since the incident, the patient suffers from constant anxiety and heart issues. He has sought out treatment from a number of specialists, and he has had extensive treatment, tried multiple drugs, and consumes zero stimulants, all of which has had no effect on his mental and physical symptoms.

Questions to the Physical Therapy expert and their responses

Please discuss your background in treating similar patients as described in the case summary.

As a sports specialist treating orthopedic patients, I often treat chest pain. I routinely treat patients with chest pain and teach in an entry-level program, serving as a Clinical Instructor for our entry-level students in the clinic where we address modalities and indications/contraindications/precautions.

Do you have experience in using the treatment described in the case summary?

I am familiar with and use the treatment system described in this case on a weekly basis; however, I use it primarily for pre-mod and interferential treatment. I have used this system for stimulation in the past, but only after surgery. The unit that I am familiar with offers multiple options on type of electrical stimulation (pre-mod, INF, Russian, biphasic, etc); all which have different outcomes in mind (pain, swelling, muscle activation, etc). A standard unit does not have these options and is used primarily for pain management. Electrodes should not be placed at the points specified on the patient's chest, and the physical therapist should never leave the room while this type of therapy is administered.

About the expert

This highly qualified professor of physical therapy has worked in a variety of different settings including sports rehabilitation centers and university hospitals. She is a member of several professional organizations including both the Orthopedic section and Sports section of the American Physical Therapy Association. She is the former clinical coordinator of the school of physical therapy at Northwestern University. She lectures widely on a variety of physical therapy and sports rehabilitation topics such as integrated management of upper and lower extremities and athletic taping. In her current role as the director of sports and physical therapy she oversees the physical therapy residency.

E-007915

Specialties:

Physical Therapy