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Who is a physical therapist?

A physical therapist is a healthcare practitioner with expertise in helping patients of all age groups experiencing physical limitations due to musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary disorders. They also work with individuals interested in enhancing their health and reducing their risk of future problems. You can find a physical therapist near you in private clinics, hospitals, schools, and long-term care centers. Some of them also offer home care and virtual consultations. 

Physical therapists are highly qualified professionals who begin their education with a bachelor's degree. Afterward, they earn a doctoral degree in physical therapy from an accredited institution. During the 3-year program, they study biology, physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, musculoskeletal systems, and more subjects. Before practicing, they must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination and the state licensing exam. Now, some physical therapists become board-certified in a particular specialty, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, sports medicine, and women's health. 

It is important to remember that physical therapists are not medical doctors and cannot make a diagnosis, prescribe medications, or perform surgeries. Typically, they function as integral members of the broader healthcare team, collaborating closely with medical doctors to ensure comprehensive patient care.

What type of conditions does a physical therapist treat?

Physical therapists can help patients suffering from a range of different health issues, including: 

• Cardiovascular conditions: Heart attack, heart disease, heart failure 
• Pulmonary conditions: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma 
• Geriatric conditions: Arthritis, osteoporosis, joint stiffness and soreness, balance issues
• Orthopedic conditions: Arthritis, tension headaches, broken bones, sprains, back pain, frozen shoulder, hip pain, sciatica, tendonitis 
• Neurological conditions: Brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia
• Sports injuries: Stress fractures, ACL tears, concussions, tennis elbow, hip flexor strains, dislocation of joints, rotator cuff tears 
• Pediatric conditions: Developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, torticollis, clubfoot, Down syndrome, toe walking, poor posture, sports injuries
• Women's health conditions: Pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence, osteoporosis, diastasis recti abdominis

Physical therapists also help with rehabilitation after surgeries, such as cancer surgery, hip or knee replacement surgery, spinal fusion, rotator cuff surgery, heart surgery, and breast surgery.

What are the benefits of physical therapy?

Whether you've been having chronic pain or just gotten out of a surgical procedure, physical therapy can help restore the functionality and mobility needed to perform everyday activities. Some benefits of seeing a physical therapist near you include:

• Physical therapy helps in pain management without taking pain medication or with decreased doses of opioids.
• Physical therapists help prevent falls and sports-related injuries through exercise and muscle-strengthening methods. Some also work in schools and help students rehabilitate from sports injuries. They also help students with disabilities or chronic conditions. 
• Pregnancy, birth, abdominal surgeries, and other conditions can cause the pelvic floor to weaken and lose the ability to support the pelvic organs. It may lead to urinary leakage, low back pain, and sexual dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help patients recover from pelvic floor dysfunction. 
• Physical therapists can also support rehabilitation needed for neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). These patients usually need help improving flexibility, balance, coordination, weakness, aerobic endurance, fatigue, and respiratory function.
• Individuals who have suffered a stroke or spine injury will often have physical therapy as part of their rehabilitation program. It can significantly improve their condition.
• Physical therapy can also help manage age-related medical problems such as arthritis. Many types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, can be debilitating and cause symptoms like stiffness, joint inflammation, and tenderness. In such cases, physical therapy can aid in restoring the function of joints affected by arthritis.

What to expect during your first physical therapy appointment?

Your first physical therapy appointment will typically last about an hour, depending on your situation. Arrive at the clinic a few minutes before your scheduled time, as you may have to fill in some initial paperwork. Remember to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that allow you to move around freely. 

Your physical therapist will start sessions by discussing your situation. Tell them about your symptoms—where you feel pain, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your everyday activities. They may also ask you general questions about your lifestyle and diet habits. Apart from discussing your concerns, they will review your medical records, including health history, diagnostic reports, medications, past surgeries, and doctor's notes. 

The provider will conduct a physical examination, asking you to stand, walk, or move a certain way. They may also examine the affected areas. These assessments will give them an idea of your current range of motion, mobility, strength, balance, and pain level. 

Finally, they will discuss the results with you, help you decide on the physical therapy goals, and prepare a relevant treatment plan. It may comprise a combination of interventions such as exercises, stretching, massage, heat and cold therapy, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), kinesiology taping, and more. You will likely have to go for follow-up visits until you achieve your goals and improve your situation. 

10 questions you should ask your physical therapist

Getting physical therapy for the first time can seem daunting, but it does not have to be that way. The best way to feel at ease is to communicate with your physical therapist and get all the necessary information. If you are unsure what to ask, the following list of questions is a good starting point: 

1. Do you accept my insurance?
2. Do you have experience treating patients with my condition?
3. What physical therapy modalities do you recommend for me?
4. How many times a week do I need to visit for physical therapy?
5. How long will the physical therapy sessions last?
6. What will a typical physical therapy session consist of?
7. When will I start seeing positive results?
8. Do I need to follow any at-home care strategies, such as an exercise routine and heat therapy?
9. Will I experience any pain or discomfort during physical therapy?
10. Should I avoid anything during my rehabilitation journey?

What should you wear for your physical therapy sessions?

As a rule of thumb, wearing loose-fitting clothing during your physical therapy sessions is a good idea. Your choice of attire should not restrict your movements. Instead, you should be able to perform the various exercises and stretches that are a part of your rehabilitation plan. Additionally, if it's your first time meeting the physical therapist, you should dress in a way that allows easy access to your affected body part for evaluation. Keeping this in mind, here are some clothing ideas for you:

• Upper body: A T-shirt, tank top, lightweight athletic jacket
• Lower body: Shorts or sweatpants with an elastic waistband
• Footwear: Athletic or flat shoes, socks

You must avoid tight-fitting jeans, leggings, turtlenecks, full-sleeved shirts, sweaters, dresses, skirts, and other clothing that can restrict movement and cause discomfort. Do not wear jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets that can interfere with the physical therapy sessions. As for footwear, avoid heels, sandals, and flip-flops that do not provide enough support for exercising and other activities. 

How long does physical therapy take to work?

Each individual's body heals at a different rate. A physical therapy session typically lasts thirty to sixty minutes. Depending on the extent of your injury or the severity of your illness, it could take several weeks or even months for physical therapy to start working and reduce your pain symptoms. For example, healing soft tissues can take six to eight weeks. 

Physical therapy and rehabilitation can take longer to work for chronic conditions or progressively worsening conditions. Depending on your specific treatment plan, your physical therapist may ask you to attend sessions once a week or more frequently. As you get better and see improvement in pain and mobility, you may need to go less often and for shorter sessions. Your physical therapist may also give you a home exercise program if necessary.

However, it is vital to note that physical therapy may not work for everyone. Sometimes, a patient's symptoms may indicate a serious underlying health issue requiring surgery or other treatment. Consult your general physician or medical specialist before seeking physical therapy. A good physical therapist knows how to check a patient's progress and when to refer them to medical specialists if their treatment is not working or worsening their symptoms.

How to find a physical therapist near you in Atlanta, GA? 

If your condition hampers your ability to perform everyday tasks independently, it can become increasingly frustrating. These effects may extend to your personal, work, and social life, potentially leading to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and emotional outbursts. However, always remember that it is possible to reverse your situation by getting help at the right time. All you need to do is book an appointment with the best physical therapist!

Finding reliable physical therapists can be a challenging task. That's why it's a good idea to use Zocdoc, the most extensive online directory of healthcare professionals across the USA. Open the Zocdoc website on your laptop, phone, or tablet and type in your requirements in the search bar—kind of specialist (physical therapist/pediatric physical therapist/any other), location (Atlanta, GA), and insurance details. You will get the required in-network providers when you click the search button. 

If the list of providers is overwhelmingly long, don't worry—you can use filters to modify your search results. For example, you can specify whether you wish to have an in-person or virtual appointment, whether you are comfortable with a male or female provider, and whether you want to consult in the morning, afternoon, or evening. This way, you will get targeted results based on your unique preferences. 

Furthermore, you can review every provider's profile page for information about their education, training, certifications, hospital affiliations, practice name, address, and more. You can also review patient ratings and reviews for first-hand information about the physical therapist. 

If you are concerned about the safety of your personal and insurance information, do not worry! Zocdoc prioritizes keeping your information secure and always follows industry best practices when protecting your data. To learn more about what data is collected and how it is safeguarded, read Zocdoc's data and privacy policy here. You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.

Once you have done a thorough review and found the desired physical therapist near you, go ahead and book your first appointment via Zocdoc. We guarantee that it is easy, secure, and 100% free! 

Statistics on physical therapists and physical disabilities in Georgia and the USA

Based on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, as of May 2022, around 5,990 physical therapists were practicing in Georgia.

According to a 2021 America's Health Rankings report, around 24.9% of adults in Georgia reported having some form of arthritis. The condition was more prevalent among females (about 28.7% cases) than among males (about 20.8% cases). Nearly half of the affected individuals, meaning almost 52.6%, were from the older age group of 65+ years. Arthritis was also considerably present among the other age groups—about 32% were between the ages of 45 and 64, whereas approximately 8.5% were aged 18-44. 

Another 2021 report found that cardiovascular diseases affected about 9.2% of Georgians, of whom around 10.5% were males and 8% were females. The age-wise distribution was as follows: around 21% of the affected population were aged 65+, about 10.8% were between 45 and 64, and the rest, 3.1%, were aged 18-44. 

America's Health Rankings also analyzed lung disease trends within Georgia's adult population. In 2021, around 6.6% of the adults were struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or chronic bronchitis, and 9.4% had asthma. About 7.9% and 12.9% of females had COPD and asthma, respectively, rendering them a more vulnerable population group when compared with males. When examining the prevalence among different age groups, COPD was most prevalent among the 65+ age group (around 11.2% cases), whereas asthma predominantly affected the youngest population of 18-44 years (about 10.9% cases).

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 14% of adults in Georgia lived with a mobility disability, around 8% had severe difficulties with independent living, and about 4% struggled with self-care. These individuals had a higher risk of depression, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and a propensity for smoking. 

Another CDC report revealed that about 3% of babies (1 in every 33 babies) in the USA are born with congenital disabilities every year. Among these cases, approximately 1,427 babies had spina bifida, around 6,643 were affected by clubfoot, and approximately 2,026 babies had limb defects.

Sources

WebMD 

Cleveland Clinic 

Medical News Today 

Verywell Health[1]

Verywell Health[2] 

GoodRx

America’s Health Rankings[1]

America’s Health Rankings[2]

America’s Health Rankings[3]

America’s Health Rankings[4]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]

KidsHealth

Healthline

Jackson Health System

Miracle Physical Therapy and Massage Center

BenchMark Physical Therapy

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.