Physical therapy is a treatment that we hear mentioned a lot, but how many of us really know what it entails? Unless you’re a physical therapist, studying to become a physical therapist, or is someone who has had several physical therapy treatments, you probably know nothing about it! So, together, let’s learn everything we need to know about physical therapy! So if the time ever comes where you need physical therapy, you have an idea as to what you’re in for.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is defined as the treatment of deformity, disease, and injury by physical methods such as exercise, heat treatments, massage, and more instead of using drugs or surgery to help. The way The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) explains it, “PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.” This treatment can be used in conjunction with other treatments or on its own.
What this means in shorter terms is that physical therapy can improve your mobility and possibly reduce pain and other symptoms. Though every person has their own reasons for visiting a physical therapist, the average person pursues physical therapy as a way to help make their day-to-day activities easier. So for a child recovering from a sprained ankle or a senior recovering from a heart attack, physical therapy can help them on the path to wellness.
Depending on the condition or injury, manual therapy treatments will be done during the session. At the very least, a physical therapist will inform you on how to care for and manage your symptoms with a personalized treatment plan.
Who Can Benefit from Physical Therapy?
As implied in the above paragraph, physical therapy can benefit people of all ages with various medical conditions. There is a long list of conditions that can be treated by physical therapy. This list includes, but is not limited to:
- Age-related issues
- Arthritis
- Back and neck pain
- Balance issues
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic pain
- Cystic fibrosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart and lung disease
- Joint injuries, including knee and ankle
- Lymphedema
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle strains
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Sports injuries
Physical therapy can help your entire body from head to toe, improving its overall function and your health.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
The benefits of physical therapy are dependant on the condition that is being treated. Physical therapists who specialize in sports-related injuries help athletes maximize their performance by strengthening specific body parts and training muscles to be used in new ways.
The benefits of physical therapy include, but aren’t limited to:
- Avoiding the need for surgery
- Fall prevention
- Improved balance
- Improved movement and mobility
- Injury recovery
- Management of age-related medical problems
- Pain management with reduced need for opioids
- Recovery from paralysis
- Recovery from stroke
- Recovery from trauma
What Can a Patient Expect During a Physical Therapy Session?
Whether you’re going to a physical therapist on the recommendation of a doctor or on your own, you will go through the same process. A standard session lasts about 45-60 minutes. So here is what you can expect during your first session:
- You will have to undergo a physical evaluation and examination. This includes your medical history and certain testing procedures. This includes an evaluation of your flexibility, movement, and posture and how your muscles and joints move and perform.
- Getting a clinical diagnosis and prognosis as well as a plan of care and deciding your short and long-term goals.
- Receive physical therapy based on your evaluation and your diagnosis.
- Receive recommendations for self-management to help aid in your treatment.
However, the treatments themselves will vary with the type of injury or medical condition you’re suffering from.
Types of Treatment
Physical therapy can be used to treat a large range of conditions. Different physical therapy treatments take care of different conditions, but a physical therapist will know the appropriate treatment for your condition. So here is the list of therapies and what they treat:
- Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation: This treatment can benefit those who are affected by cardiopulmonary conditions and surgical procedures. This treatment can increase a patient’s stamina and physical endurance.
- Decongestive Therapy: This type of therapy helps drain accumulated fluid from patients who have lymphedema and other conditions where fluids are accumulated.
- Geriatric Physical Therapy: These treatments are for older patients who are suffering from conditions that affect their mobility and physical function. This includes Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, balance disorders, hip and joint replacement, incontinence, and osteoporosis. This type of treatment aims to increase physical fitness levels, reduce pain, and restore mobility.
- Neurological Physical Therapy: People with neurological disorders and certain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and other conditions can benefit from this treatment. This treatment aims to increase limb responsiveness, increase muscle strength while reducing muscle atrophy, and treat paralysis.
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy: This therapy treats musculoskeletal injuries, which involves treating the bones, fascias, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. It helps with bursitis, chronic medical problems, fractures, rehabilitation or recovery from orthopedic surgery, sprains, and tendonitis. Treatments include joint mobilization, manual therapy, mobility training, strength training, and other issues.
- Pediatric Physical Therapy: This is for infants, children, and adolescents who are dealing with conditions such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, spina bifida, torticollis, and other conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system
- Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: This treatment works to help treat fecal or urinary incontinence, urgency, and pelvic pain in men and women. Physical manipulation and physical therapy can be used to treat this condition as well as other methods such as electrical stimulation, light therapy, and ultrasound to name a few.
- Vestibular Therapy: This therapy works to treat balance problems that happen because of inner ear conditions. Several exercises and manual techniques can help give patients back their coordination and normal balance.
- Wound Care Therapy: This therapy helps ensure that the healing wound is receiving the proper oxygen and blood flow through improved circulation. Compression therapy, electric stimulation, manual therapies, physical therapy, and wound care can all be used to help treat wounds.
How to Find a Good Physical Therapist
Finding the right physical therapist for your condition involves a number of factors including reason for treatment, insurance acceptance, location, and more. But the search can be made easier with some assistance from your insurance company. Most insurance companies provide lists of physical therapy locations that accept your insurance. From there, you can research which physical therapist is the right choice for you. Another way you can find a physical therapist is to look online or access a physical therapy web-based tool or research engine.
Physical therapy works to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. By seeking out the help of a skilled physical therapist, your quality of life can be greatly improved through the use of therapeutic exercise and other treatments. With the help of physical therapy, you can go back to daily life and all the activities you enjoy with ease.
