How to use the OPTIMAL scale

This video demonstrates the OPTIMAL scale for the initial step in physical therapy diagnosis.

If you don't have written copyright permission to use the OPTIMAL (available for free from the APTA here)then you can use any other functional scale you like. You can even make up your own.

The OPTIMAL is my preference because it is 'recommended' by Medicare. Also, the psychometric properties of the OPTIMAL have been described, including descriptive statistics, measures of reliability, validity and responsiveness. Read the full text article here

Once you have the patient-identified functional limitations you can formulate your clinical hypotheses.

You take measurements in order to support or refute your hypothesis.

You design your plan of care based upon the measured impairments you discover in the course of your evaluation.

You re-measure the impairments to assess progress.

Ultimately, you re-measure the functional limitations (using the OPTIMAL).

The second OPTIMAL serves as a test of your original hypothesis.

Visit www.SimpleScore.com for video demonstrations of simple ways to measure common impairments in ROM and strength.