Physical therapy: Who can benefit, and how can it help? (original) (raw)

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.

Apart from physical manipulation, physical therapy treatment may involve:

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:

Depending on the reason for treatment, the benefits of physical therapy may include:

A sports therapist can help an athlete maximize their performance by strengthening specific parts of the body and using muscles in new ways.

A physical therapist or other healthcare professional can advise individuals about the benefits specific to their personal medical history and their need for treatment.

There are many types of physical therapy, and therapists often choose to specialize. These types include:

Pediatric physical therapy aims to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents. Such conditions may include:

Pediatric physical therapists work to improve mobility, alleviate pain, develop or restore function, and prevent or decrease permanent physical disabilities.

They work closely with children and their families and caregivers to improve a child’s ability to function independently and actively at home and at school.

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.

Another way to find a physical therapist is to look online or access the APTA Find a PT web-based tool.

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:

Physical therapists can specialize in fields such as:

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.