Physical therapy is the treatment of medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit patients’ ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical therapists (PTs) help people with orthopedic conditions such as low back pain or osteoporosis; joint and soft tissue injuries such as fractures and dislocations; neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or Parkinson’s disease; connective tissue injuries such as burns or wounds; cardiopulmonary and circulatory conditions such as congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and workplace injuries including repetitive stress disorders and sports injuries. Physical therapy is practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes.
When a PT sees a patient for the first time, he or she examines that individual and develops a plan of care that promotes the ability to move, reduces pain, restores function, and prevents disability. The PT and the patient then work side-by-side to make sure that the goals of the treatment plan are met. Therapeutic exercise and functional training are the cornerstones of physical therapy. PTs may perform passive range-of-motion movements on patients with restricted joint mobility. Specific massage techniques are also used in order to promote proper circulatory, lymph and connective tissue mobility to the musculoskeletal system. PTs may use techniques such as electrotherapy, ultrasound, hot packs, and ice in addition to other treatments when appropriate. PTs will also work with individuals to prevent loss of mobility by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Pediatric PTs use neurological developmental training to help developmentally delayed children, while PTs specializing in geriatrics work with cognitive impairments that can affect vestibular functions, such as loss of balance or proprioception.
Source: American Physical Therapy Association
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