- Also called:
- physiotherapy
physical therapy
-
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a healthcare profession focused on improving movement and mobility in individuals with impaired physical functioning. Physical therapists work with patients to establish achievable goals through exercise and functional training to improve movement. They provide education to help adults recover from movement impairments caused by injury or disease and to prevent disability from abnormal posture and movement. Physical therapy can also assist infants with developmental disabilities in learning movements and promoting functional mobility. Often, people who benefit from physical therapy have experienced a reduced quality of life due to physical impairments caused by disease or injury.
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Why do people need physical therapy?
People often need physical therapy because they have experienced a reduced quality of life as a result of physical impairments or functional limitations caused by disease or injury. Physical therapists work with individuals to determine goals that can be achieved through exercise and functional training to improve movement. They also educate patients on how to recover or improve movements impaired by disease and injury and to prevent injury and disability caused by abnormal posture and movement.
Some individuals who often need physical therapy include those with back pain, elderly persons with arthritis or balance problems, injured athletes, infants with developmental disabilities, and persons who have had severe burns, strokes, or spinal cord injuries.
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What kinds of injuries or conditions can physical therapy help with?
Physical therapy is a specialized medical service that aims to rehabilitate individuals disabled by pain or ailments affecting motor functions, helping them return to a comfortable and productive life. It can help individuals with back pain, arthritis, balance problems, burns, strokes, and spinal cord injuries. Physical therapists work with patients to improve movement that has been impaired by disease or injury and to prevent disability caused by abnormal posture and movement. They also help infants with developmental disabilities learn movements and emphasize functional mobility. Some problems, like pain, may be addressed with treatments, including mobilization of soft tissues and joints, electrotherapy, and other physical agents.
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What does a physical therapist do?
A physical therapist is a licensed health care professional who helps patients maintain, restore, or improve movement and physical function impaired by injury, disease, or disability. They examine individuals and work with them to set goals achievable through exercise and training to improve movement. Education is a key part of patient management, teaching adults how to recover or improve movements and prevent injury caused by poor posture. Treatments such as soft tissue and joint mobilization, electrotherapy, and other physical agents may address problems like pain.
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What are some common techniques or exercises used in physical therapy?
Physical therapy employs diverse techniques to rehabilitate individuals with physical impairments. Exercise is a core component, aimed at improving joint motion, muscle strength, and coordinated movement. Functional training is also key, teaching patients how to perform daily activities safely and effectively, which may involve the use of assistive devices. Other treatments include mobilization of soft tissues and joints, electrotherapy, and physical agents to address issues like pain. These methods help patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall quality of life.
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How does physical therapy improve a person's recovery and prevent future injuries?
Physical therapy enhances recovery and prevents future injuries through exercise and functional training, which improve movement and address pain with treatments like soft tissue and joint mobilization and electrotherapy. It is aimed at rehabilitating persons disabled by pain or ailments affecting the motor functions of the body. Education is key, teaching adults to recover from injuries and prevent disabilities caused by poor posture. Physical therapists help people improve movements impaired by disease and injury. They also assist infants with developmental disabilities in learning new movements, emphasizing functional mobility.
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physical therapy, health profession that aims to improve movement and mobility in persons with compromised physical functioning. Professionals in the field are known as physical therapists.
History of physical therapy
Although the use of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle is ancient in its origins, modern physical therapy appears to have originated in the 19th century with the promotion of massage and manual muscle therapy in Europe. In the early 20th century, approaches in physical therapy were used in the United States to evaluate muscle function in those affected by polio. Physical therapists developed programs to strengthen muscles when possible and helped polio patients learn how to use their remaining musculature to accomplish functional mobility activities. About the same time, physical therapists in the United States were also trained to work with soldiers returning from World War I; these therapists were known as “reconstruction aides.” Some worked in hospitals close to the battlefields in France to begin early rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. Typical patients were those with amputated limbs, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Physical therapists later practiced in a wide variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, public schools, and home health agencies. In each of those settings, therapists work with other members of the health care team toward common goals for the patient.
Patients of physical therapy
Often, persons who undergo physical therapy have experienced a decrease in quality of life as a result of physical impairments or functional limitations caused by disease or injury. Individuals who often are in need of physical therapy include those with back pain, elderly persons with arthritis or balance problems, injured athletes, infants with developmental disabilities, and persons who have had severe burns, strokes, or spinal cord injuries. Persons whose endurance for movement is affected by heart or lung problems or other illnesses are also helped by exercise and education to build activity tolerance and improve muscle strength and efficiency of movement during functional activities. Individuals with limb deficiencies are taught to use prosthetic replacement devices.
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Patient management
Physical therapists complete an examination of the individual and work with him or her to determine goals that can be achieved primarily through exercise prescription and functional training to improve movement. Education is a key component of patient management. Adults with impairments and functional limitations can be taught to recover or improve movements impaired by disease and injury and to prevent injury and disability caused by abnormal posture and movement. Infants born with developmental disabilities are helped to learn movements they have never done before, with an emphasis on functional mobility for satisfying participation in family and community activities. Some problems, such as pain, may be addressed with treatments, including mobilization of soft tissues and joints, electrotherapy, and other physical agents.
Progress in physical therapy
New areas of practice are continually developing in the field of physical therapy. The scope of practice of a growing specialty in women’s health, for example, includes concerns such as incontinence, pelvic/vaginal pain, prenatal and postpartum musculosketelal pain, osteoporosis, rehabilitation following breast surgery, and lymphedema (accumulation of fluids in soft tissues). Females across the life span, from the young athlete to the childbearing, menopausal, or elderly woman, can benefit from physical therapy. Education for prevention, wellness, and exercise is another important area in addressing physical health for both men and women.