You've probably heard from a friend or relative who's undergoing physical therapy. Perhaps you've even had some physical therapy yourself. And while you probably know how physical therapy helps people recover from an injury, you might not know the full extent of its benefits.
In an editorial that appeared in PT Magazine, Nancy Perkin Beaumont, CAE, remarked,
"Physical therapists are good people to know. They're educated in understanding the interaction of all your body parts. Their hands-on approach begins with examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the immediate problem. Then they teach you how to take care of yourself by showing you how to do exercises and how to use your body properly to gain strength and mobility and prevent recurring injury. You'll find them advising on proper posture and body motion in the work place, treating injuries, consulting on fitness, and administering physical therapy in the home. Today, physical therapists provide help for every part of the body to everyone from infants to the elderly – more than one million people every day!"
Physical therapists are experts in movement and function. They help people of all ages return to normal function after an injury or disease. They also develop individualized treatment programs to help people prevent injury from occurring or to slow the progression of conditions resulting from injury, disease, or other causes.
Increasingly, people are looking to physical therapy as an alternative to surgery or medication – or at least as the first step in treatment hoping that other interventions can be avoided. Through massage, exercise, light, heat, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy (water), ultrasound (sound waves), magnetic fields, and more, the physical therapist helps improve a person's use of bones, muscles, joints, and nerves.
When You Need a PT
Anytime you have a problem with movement that keeps you from participating in activities you are accustomed to, you might benefit from seeing a physical therapist. Some of the most common reasons people seek physical therapy include:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand problems, including carpal tunnel syndrome
- Posture problems, including scoliosis
- Knee, ankle, or foot problems
- Leg problems
- Osteoporosis
- Sprains, muscle strains
- Fractures
- Heart or stroke rehabilitation
- Burns
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- Arthritis
- Rehabilitation after a serious injury
- Amputations
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Balance or coordination problems
- Newborn or infant disabilities
- Developmental delays
- Balance or coordination problems
- Before and after pregnancy
- Incontinence
- Fitness and wellness education
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| And this is only a partial list. |
Where to Find a PT
More than 120,000 physical therapists are licensed in the United States today. Although many physical therapists practice in hospitals, nearly 80 percent practice in:
- Outpatient clinics or offices
- Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities
- Homes
- Education or research centers
- Schools
- Hospices
- Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments
- Fitness centers and sports training facilities
For more information on physical therapy, visit the American Physical Therapy Association. |
