Theory-Informed Clinical Practice: How Physical Therapists Can Use Fundamental Interventions to Address Social Determinants of Health

Abstract

The American Physical Therapy Association's Vision Statement for the profession is guided by principles of innovation, access, equity, and advocacy, and calls on physical therapists to stretch their influence beyond the walls of the clinic and the individuals they treat. Access and equity are problems that span multiple health care professions and entities; yet, addressing social determinants of health is a paradigm shift that clinicians need continued support to achieve. This article has 2 objectives: (1) to define the Fundamental Cause Theory and the Socioecological Model within the context of physical therapy in order to promote best clinical practice, and (2) to apply the concept of "fundamental interventions" in clinical practice to mitigate the negative impact of downstream effects of social determinants of health across levels of the Socioecological Model-individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and societal. This theoretical lens provides the conceptual framework necessary for physical therapists to think creatively about ways to change their practice in their own contexts to impact the life of individual patients and transform the movement health of society. IMPACT: As health care providers, physical therapists have a responsibility to make every effort to meet the needs of their patients and optimize movement health in society; yet significant structural and systemic barriers often prevent patients from reaching their fullest potential. Clinicians can no longer subscribe to a narrow scope of practice focused on individual attainment of therapy goals. This Perspective discusses Fundamental Cause Theory and the Socioecological Model theoretical frameworks that can help physical therapists develop, test, and implement functional interventions to address the needs of society as a whole.