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Physical therapists have extensive experience in evaluating and treating disorders resulting from injury, disability, or other health conditions in physical therapy.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reports that physical therapists are expertly educated and trained movement experts who can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, impairments, and injuries. Licensed physical therapists work in a variety of different healthcare settings, including medical offices, private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home healthcare, sports and fitness facilities, schools, hospices, occupational settings, government agencies, and research centers.
What to expect
A physical therapist helps patients through all stages of healing, from the initial diagnosis to preventive and restorative stages. Physical therapy can be a standalone treatment, or it may serve to enhance the treatment of other therapies.
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy mandates therapists goes through certain educational programs, which enable them to: - conducts a physical evaluation of one’s movement and joint motion, flexibility, muscle performance, and general health status. One will learn about a person's medical history too.
- Determine a diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan for a patient along with short and long-term goals.
- Proceed with physiotherapy treatment and intervention.
- Provide self-management recommendations, including exercises a person can do at home.
Other than physical manipulation, physical therapy may involve: - Iontophoresis: This noninvasive treatment method involves using an electrically driven current to deliver medications to the skin, such as steroid creams. This can lessen inflammation, hence enabling long-term improvement.
- Electrical stimulation (e-stim): The type of e-stim is known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Meanwhile, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (MES) focuses on increasing muscular efficiency.
- Hot water, moist heat, and cold therapy: These remedies may help alleviate a variety of health issues.
- Light therapy: This kind of therapy involves using lights and lasers to treat certain medical conditions.
Physical therapy may help with many common conditions.
Physical therapists can provide treatment to a variety of medical conditions, depending on their area of specialization.
Although physical therapists may not directly and automatically treat a wide variety of health issues other than muscle and soft tissue injuries, they focus on optimizing recovery or teaching individuals how best to improve their movement patterns.
Here are some conditions that could benefit from physical therapy: - Mounting instances of cardiopulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and post-myocardial infarction heart failure
- Conditions affecting the hand, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger
- Musculoskeletal dysfunction, including back pain, rotator cuff tears, and temporomandibular joint disorders
- Neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, vestibular dysfunction, and traumatic brain injuries
- Common pediatric health conditions, such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
- Injuries that may arise from sports, such as tennis elbow and concussion
- Female health and pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence and lymphedema
- skin conditions or injuries including burns, wound care, and diabetic ulcers
- pain management with reduced need for opioids
- avoiding surgery
- improved mobility and movement
- recovery from injury or trauma
- recovery from stroke or paralysis
- fall prevention
- improved balance
- management of age-related medical problems
Sports therapists can help athletes enhance their performance by strengthening particular body areas and using muscles in new ways.A physical therapist or other medical professionals can advise individuals about the advantages and disadvantages relevant to their personal medical history and their need for treatment.Types of Physical Therapy
There are many different types of physical therapy, and professional therapists often choose to specialize in one specialty. These specialties include: - Orthopedic physical therapy: This treatment focuses on treating injuries involving the musculoskeletal system, which include muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. It is ideal for conditions including fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic health problems, and spine surgery rehabilitation or recovery. Joint mobilizations, manual therapy, strength training, mobility training, and other modalities are commonly used to treat individuals with joint conditions.
- Geriatric physical therapy: This type of physical therapy can help older individuals whose conditions cause a reduction in mobility and physical function, including arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, hip and knee replacements, balance disorders, and incontinence. The intervention promotes mobility and pain management, thereby improving physical strength
- Neurological physical therapy: This method can aid 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 heighten limb responsiveness, create more effective movement patterns, regulate muscle tone, strengthen muscles, and promote balance.
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation: This can assist patients with chronic cardiopulmonary ailments and surgical procedures. Treatment can improve physical 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. Depending on the nature of a physical injury, physical therapy might include the use of manual therapies, e-stim, compression therapy, and wound care.
- Vestibular therapy: This helps resolve balance difficulties caused by inner ear disorders. Vestibular physical therapy involves a number of exercises and manipulations that can be used by patients to reclaim their balance and coordination
- Decongestive therapy: This can help remove accumulated fluid in patients with lymphedema or other types of fluid accumulations
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation: Treating ailments such as urinary or fecal incontinence and urinary urgency and pelvic pain due to injuries or surgery or due to certain conditions can help treat conditions that affect the lower part of the body, such as the pelvic floor.
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy is dedicated to treating, diagnosing, and managing a wide range of conditions that affect infants, children, and teens. Some of the conditions that may benefit from physical therapy include: Pediatric physical therapists strive to increase mobility, alleviate pain, restore or develop function, and protect against or lessen permanent physical disabilities. It is their goal to work closely with their family members and caregivers in order to improve the independence of their clients at home as well as at school.
Finding a physical therapist
Selecting a suitable physical therapist can involve numerous aspects, including insurance acceptance, specialty, and reason for treatment, in addition to geographical location. Insurance companies may supply lists of physical therapy practitioners whom insurance companies recommend using with certain health care plans. Some other health professionals can offer referrals, too.
Physical therapists can specialize in fields such as: - cardiovascular and pulmonary health
- clinical electrophysiology
- health for older adults
- neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and sports physical therapy
Summary
Physical therapy can be very beneficial for those who have certain injuries, disabilities, or other medical concerns. For more information on the benefits of physical therapy, a person should speak with a physical therapist or another healthcare professional.
Pro Therapy Supplies is a company that specializes in physical therapy equipment and supplies. If you need help with your equipment or have any questions about it, you may call 770-441-9808 and we will help you find what you need and answer any questions you may have.
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