These licensed health professionals complete advanced physical therapy training. They are also known as physical therapists or physiotherapists.
Physical therapists assess your condition and create a treatment plan to guide your therapy. They will also teach you specific exercises to help you move and function more effectively.
Finding a suitable physical therapist can be complicated by various factors such as insurance acceptance, area of expertise and purpose for treatment, and geographical location.
Insurance companies frequently list physical therapy locations that participate in specific health plans. Other healthcare professionals in the area may have a list of therapists they recommend.
Diagnosis process
Your PT will assist in determining a diagnosis and then collaborate with your doctor as the role of your healthcare team.
You and your physical therapist will set goals for your physical therapy sessions. Most physical therapists will concentrate on restoring your quality of life. You may need to focus on the following:
1. Pain relief
2. Regaining mobility
3. Resuming daily activities
Your physical therapist will assist you in understanding what is happening with your condition and how your treatment plan will perform. You should be able to achieve your objectives with their assistance.
Types of Physical Therapy treatments
- Orthopedic physical therapy: This therapy treats musculoskeletal injuries involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. It is suitable for fractures, sprains, and chronic health problems. Patients may undergo treatment with manual therapy, strength training, and mobility training.
- Geriatric physical therapy: This can help older adults who encounter conditions that affect their mobility and physical function, including Arthritis, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence. This intervention aims to restore mobility, reduce pain, and increase physical fitness.
- Neurological physical therapy: People with neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke can receive support from neurological physical therapy. The treatment aims to improve limb responsiveness, movement patterns, strength, and balance.
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation:Â It can help people with certain cardiopulmonary conditions or surgical procedures. Treatment has been found to improve cardiovascular endurance and stamina.
- Wound care therapy: It can help ensure that a healing wound receives adequate oxygen and blood through improved circulation. Physical therapy may include manual treatments, e-stim, compression therapy, and wound care.
- Vestibular therapy: It aims to treat balance problems resulting from inner ear conditions. Vestibular physical therapy involves exercises and manual techniques to help patients regain balance and coordination.
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation: This can help treat conditions that affect the pelvic floor, such as urinary urgency and pelvic pain resulting from injuries or surgery, or certain diseases.
Top 7 Benefits of Physical Therapy
1. Rehab from a sports-related injury
Not all sports-related injuries require surgery. But to prevent further damage, they need targeted interference that can reduce pain, build up the injured area, and help you get back to your previous life.
As per the studies, treatment of a more acute sports injury may require physical therapy for rehabilitation or fitting for a brace, cast, or splint.
A physical therapist can create a plan to help you regain range of motion and strength in the injured area. This procedure may include specific exercises. Massage, aquatic therapy, ultrasound, and cold and heat therapy can all help to strengthen muscles and joints and prevent further injury.
2. Decrease pain
Many pain requires prescription medications or surgery to improve, while other pain can benefit from physical therapy and exercise. Severe pain generally has a known cause. It often gets better with treatment and healing.
On the other hand, chronic pain survives more than three months and is caused by an injury, inflammation, disease, or some unknown cause.
3. Neurological conditions
Physical Therapy techniques may help support symptoms caused by neurological conditions such as stroke and issues related to spinal cord injuries.
4. Help with symptoms related to Arthritis.
Joint inflammation, and pain, can be debilitating symptoms caused by rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis. Physical Therapy may help decrease symptom severity and boost the overall quality of life.Â
Physical therapy can help improve mobility, restore everyday use, and increase overall strength to support joints and maintain fitness levels.
5. Reduce the number of complications associated with pelvic floor dysfunction.
Pregnancy and childbirth can be complicated on your pelvic floor muscles. Menopause, abdominal surgeries, and other situations that change intra-abdominal pressure or pelvic floor muscle tension may also play a role.
When the pelvic floor muscles are severely damaged, they weaken and lose their ability to fully support the pelvic organs, resulting in urinary leakage, low back pain, pelvic pressure, and prolapse.
6. Shorten post-surgery recovery
Your doctor may suggest Physical Therapy in the weeks following surgery; depending on the injury, surgical procedure, and overall health, treatment can last from a few weeks to a few months.Â
Orthopedic Physical Therapy is designed to improve the range of motion, decrease pain, and regain normal functioning after musculoskeletal surgery.
7. Manage Pain
Studies examined people with new chronic low back pain and found that early physical therapy interventions decreased opioid use in the short and long term.Â
Another study examines the use of Physical Therapy for chronic low back pain, and opioids were prescribed less often during follow-up visits when patients were referred to Physical Therapy.
Tips for Making the Most of Physical Therapy
Many acute and chronic conditions get benefit from physical therapy. However, for maximum benefit, the therapist and patient must collaborate. Here are five simple tips to help you get the most out of your Physical Therapy sessions.
Participate actively.
You must participate actively in your treatment. Choose the best physical therapist for your needs. Then, bring any records or notes from your doctor or other healthcare professionals to your first appointment. It’s also great to get a list of treatment questions or goals.
Ask questions
Your physical therapist is here to assist you. This includes questions about the length of treatment, the number of visits per week or month, and what to expect during and after treatment.
Do your research.
Physical therapists frequently give patients at-home exercises to do in between sessions. These exercises are intended to supplement your work during appointments. The home workouts assist with consistency and repetition. It also enables the physical therapist to monitor your progress on your own.
Speak up during meetings.
The physical therapy team is here to assist you in getting better. They rely on your honesty during and between sessions to be successful.
So, how does this affect you? Speak up if you experience discomfort or pain while performing an exercise. Inform them if something isn’t working correctly. They can use this information to modify their exercise regimen or physical therapy techniques.
Follow the physical therapist's guidance.
You must listen to the advice and guidance a physical therapist provides. If they tell you to refrain from certain activities, it’s in your best interest to do so.
If you’re active and eager to return to exercise or a sport, wait until you’re given the green light. Your therapist knows how to treat your injury best and when to clear you for activity.
Physical therapy can benefit people suffering from injuries, disabilities, or other medical conditions.
A person should speak with a physical therapist or another healthcare professional for more information on the benefits of Physical Therapy.
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