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Mar 7, 2024 · Physical therapy is treatment that helps you improve how your body performs physical movements. It can be part of a generalized pain management plan or a specific treatment for an injury or health condition. It’s common to need physical therapy after many types of surgery, too. You might also need physical therapy to help prevent injuries ...
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- Get your daily recommended physical activity. While it might not be the main reason a doctor may suggest physical therapy, this treatment will help you get the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise.
- Improve your mobility. If you have difficulty walking or moving throughout your day, physical therapy may be able to help. Physical therapists are experts at using specific exercises and specialized equipment to help you restore your body’s function.
- Relieve pain. Physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for managing and relieving acute or chronic pain. Acute pain is short-term pain that lasts no longer than 12 weeks.
- Back pain relief. Back pain is one of the most common conditions affecting adults worldwide. One of the main causes of back pain is muscle deconditioning — when the muscles weaken due to lack of exercise or aging.
Preventative Care. Invasive Surgery. Injuries, whether from sports, accidents, or overuse, are among the most common reasons individuals seek physical therapy. From sprains and strains to fractures and dislocations, these rehabilitation, help individuals regain strength, flexibility, and function in the affected area.
- Overview
- What to expect
- Common conditions physical therapy may help with
- Benefits of physical therapy
- Types
- What is pediatric physical therapy?
- Finding a physical therapist
- Training to be a physical therapist
- Summary
Physical therapy (PT) can help manage movement and reduce pain in people with various conditions, like neurological diseases and traumatic injuries. Physical therapists evaluate and take measures to enhance a person’s physical function.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapists are trained and licensed movement experts. They can diagnose and treat a range of injuries, disabilities, and health conditions.
Physical therapists aim to improve a person’s range of movement and quality of life and prevent further injury or disability.
Licensed physical therapists work in a range of healthcare settings, including outpatient offices, private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health, sports and fitness settings, schools, hospices, occupational settings, government agencies, and research centers.
A physical therapist helps take care of patients in all phases of healing, from initial diagnosis to restorative and preventive stages of recovery. Physical therapy may be a standalone option, or it may support other treatments.
Some patients are referred to a physical therapist by a doctor, while others seek therapy themselves.
According to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, a physical therapist receives training that enables them to:
•conduct a physical exam and evaluation of a person’s movement, flexibility, muscle and joint motion, and performance, including finding out about their health history
•give a clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care with short- and long-term goals
•perform physical therapy treatment and intervention
Physical therapists can provide supplementary treatment to a wide variety of medical conditions, depending on their specialty.
Although physical therapists may not directly and independently treat the medical condition other than pure musculoskeletal conditions, they work to optimize recovery or educate a person on how to optimize their movement patterns.
Some conditions that could benefit from physical therapy are:
•cardiopulmonary conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and post-myocardial infarction heart failure
•conditions that affect the hand, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger
•musculoskeletal dysfunction, including back pain, rotator cuff tears, and temporomandibular joint disorders
Depending on the reason for treatment, the benefits of physical therapy may include:
•pain management with reduced need for opioids
•avoiding surgery
•improved mobility and movement
•recovery from injury or trauma
•recovery from stroke or paralysis
There are many types of physical therapy, and therapists often choose to specialize. These types include:
•Orthopedic physical therapy: This treats musculoskeletal injuries, involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. It is suitable for conditions such as fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic health problems, and rehabilitation or recovery from orthopedic surgery. Patients may undergo treatment with joint mobilizations, manual therapy, strength training, mobility training, and other modalities.
•Geriatric physical therapy: This can help older adults who develop conditions that affect their mobility and physical function, including arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence. This type of intervention aims to restore mobility, reduce pain, and increase physical fitness levels.
•Neurological physical therapy: This can help people with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Treatment may aim to increase limb responsiveness, improve movement patterns, manage tone, improve strength, and promote balance.
•Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation: This can benefit people affected by some cardiopulmonary conditions and surgical procedures. Treatment can increase muscular and cardiovascular endurance and stamina.
•Wound care therapy: This can help ensure that a healing wound is receiving adequate oxygen and blood by way of improved circulation. Physical therapy may include the use of manual therapies, e-stim, compression therapy, and wound care.
Pediatric physical therapy aims to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents. Such conditions may include:
•developmental delays
•cerebral palsy
•spina bifida
•torticollis
•other conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system
Finding a suitable physical therapist can involve a number of factors, including insurance acceptance, specialty and reason for treatment, and geographical location.
Insurance companies often have lists of physical therapy locations that participate in specific health plans. Other healthcare professionals may have a list of therapists in the area whom they recommend.
For a person to practice as a physical therapist in the United States, they need to earn a doctor of physical therapy degree and pass a state licensure exam.
Physical therapists study areas that include:
•biology
•anatomy
•cellular histology
•physiology
Physical therapy can be very beneficial for people with certain injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions.
For more information on the benefits of physical therapy, a person should speak with a physical therapist or another healthcare professional.
Physical therapy can help your body return to a stronger, more functional state by improving mobility, strength, stability and balance. Take control of your health by scheduling an initial evaluation. Our physical therapists can provide the right guidance and treatment to get you back on the road to recovery.
Apr 21, 2022 · Arthritis. Physical therapy can improve mobility in the affected joint or joints. Balance problems. The exercises used in physical therapy can help you to improve your balance and strengthen ...
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Oct 14, 2022 · A physical therapist can design a plan to help rebuild the injured area’s range of motion and strength. This may include targeted exercises, massage therapy, aquatic therapy, ultrasound, or cold ...
