DOT Exams Specialist

What is a DOT exam?

A DOT exam is a physical required by the Department of Transportation for all employees whose job can impact their own safety or the safety of others. These employees are called safety-sensitive employees. A DOT physical follows strict guidelines mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), ensuring that safety-sensitive employees are in good health to work safely.

What to bring

Each employer must bring their complete list of medications, the dosage, frequency, and their doctor’s names and address. Your old medical card. A health history questionnaire can be filled out prior to the appointment to help save time. Drivers with vision or hearing problems must bring their eyeglasses, contacts, or hearing aids. Drivers with diabetes must bring their Insulin-Assisted Diabetes Mellitus Form completed by their prescribing provider. Drivers with heart-related issues must, at minimum, bring a letter from their cardiologist that outlines their medical history and current medications, and indicates that they are safe to work. Drivers who have nighttime sleep disturbance (sleep apnea) and use a CPAP machine should bring a letter from your sleep specialist saying you are using the machine properly. Drivers who are taking the blood thinner Coumadin (Warfarin) should bring a recent INR (blood level and clearance) letter from your doctor. 

What to expect

1. Vision test- drivers are required to have 20/40 acuity in each eye with or without corrective lenses. You are also required to distinguish between red, yellow, and green. 
2. Hearing- drivers will be given the whisper test at 5 ft away with or without a hearing aid. 
3. Blood pressure- the blood pressure must be below 140/90 the day of the exam
4. Urine Test- to check for specific gravity, hydration, proteins, glucose level, drugs, and blood in the urine
5. Physical Exam- the medical examiner checks many different systems to make sure the driver is physically and mentally able to meet the demands for the job. 

The exam can take between 30 minutes to an hour. Drivers are required to disclose all known health conditions with their examiners at the DOT exam. Failure to do so can result in disqualification for a DOT medical card. For any other questions, please call the office prior to your appointment. 

Therapeutic Exercise and Function Movement Screens

Therapeutic exercises are planned physical movements or activities done by the body to correct an impairment, improve musculoskeletal function, enhance activities and participation, reduce risk, prevent impairments, encourage a state of well-being and social interaction, and enhance fitness and well-being. 

The therapist will exam the patient, establish a plan, and implement the plan with a patient-centered goal. The therapy could involve stretching, massage, isometrics, plyometrics, calisthenics, strength training, or endurance training. Each patient is different and their care plan will be based on what each patient needs. 

Therapeutic exercise seeks to accomplish the following goals:

• Improve range of motion
• Release contracted muscles, tendons, and fascia
• Mobilize joints
• Promote relaxation and enhanced breathing
• Improve circulation
• Restore strength
• Improve safety
• Increase activity tolerance
• Enhance postural control
• Improve coordination
• Reduce rigidity
• Improve balance and gait
• Improve endurance