If you have recently suffered an injury or have been dealing with chronic pain, you might be interested in how physical therapy (PT) can help. As a healthcare specialty, PT involves the assessment, evaluation, and treatment of people whose mobility has been impaired. You can also perform physical therapy on yourself at home with appropriate tools.
While PT is primarily used to relieve pain and improve mobility, it can also be used to prevent and recover from a sports injury, reduce the need for surgery, rehabilitate stroke patients, and more. This guide will cover the ailments and issues that physical therapy can treat, as well as how it works and what you can do to benefit from it.
Do I Need Physical Therapy?
In addition to the purposes mentioned above, physical therapy is also used to:
- Improve balance
- Manage chronic illnesses (arthritis, diabetes, heart disease)
- Control bladder problems
- Adapt to prosthetic limbs
- Learn to use assistive devices
- Install a brace or splint
PT is suitable for people of all ages. It has been demonstrated to provide a swift and safe recovery, and it can save patients money on healthcare expenses as it’s relatively affordable compared to other treatments.
Where Can I Get Physical Therapy?
You can find physical therapists in a variety of settings. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and sports centers. If your child requires PT, there might be an expert in the school. Aside from professional treatment, you can also buy physical therapy products to perform PT at home. These usually come in the form of kits that contain a range of different physical therapy products such as shoulder and knee pulleys, exercise rail systems, posture kits and massage creams.
What do Physical Therapists Do?
Physical therapy is professionally administered by physiotherapists or PTs for short. In order to be a licensed physical therapist, you need to have graduated from a recognized institution and possess a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. When choosing a therapist, make sure that they’ve also passed their state exam.
As for what PTs do, they start by evaluating your condition before putting together a recovery plan. This plan can include personal goals based on your needs and objectives, such as functioning and feeling better overall. Your plan will be adjusted and modified as you progress.
They may teach you certain exercises and perform some hands-on work themselves. The latter may involve massage, heat and cold therapy, and practice with mobility devices if necessary. Depending on the extent of your injury, the PT might have to work with a doctor to guide your treatments.
It’s usually possible to visit a physiotherapist directly without a doctor’s referral. However, keep in mind that some states require a prescription. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider first.
It’s clear that physical therapy can be immensely beneficial for a variety of physical health problems. Whether your goal is to reduce pain, recover faster or simply get fit, consider giving PT a try.
