Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists are certified healthcare professionals who help manage musculoskeletal disorders (conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones). They handle patients with disabilities, injuries, illnesses, or movement problems associated with the brain, heart, lungs, spinal cord, and skin. Physical therapists are integral to preventative, rehabilitative, and post-operative care. They help identify issues with the body's biomechanics and improve physical function in people of all ages, from newborns to older adults, by recommending exercises and other rehabilitative techniques. Besides treating sports injuries and chronic health conditions, physical therapists may also help a person who wants to improve their movement, manage pain, and lead a healthier lifestyle. A physical therapist's typical responsibilities include the following:
- Observing patients and diagnosing their condition
- Addressing their concerns
- Creating individualized treatment plans
- Evaluating a patient's progress
- Modifying their plan if required
- Informing patients as well as their families about their recovery, including expectations and obstacles that may arise
Physical therapists are not medical doctors (MDs). Instead, they have a doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT), which involves three years of training and education in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and clinical reasoning.
Subspecialties in physical therapy
After completing a DPT program, some physical therapists may go for advanced clinical training in a particular subject, focusing on the part of the body, organ system, age-group-related conditions, or gender-specific treatment. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties recognizes and provides board certification in the following specialty areas:
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary system
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Women's Health
- Wound care and management
- Sports injuries
- Electrophysiology
Common conditions that improve with physical therapy
There are several health conditions, chronic as well as acute, that require physical therapy. Some may require physical therapy as the sole treatment option, while others may include it as a part of a larger treatment plan involving medications and surgery. Here are a few common conditions treated using physical therapy:
- Arthritis: This is characterized by pain, inflammation, and swelling in the joints and occurs in the feet, hands, knees, lower back, and hips. To treat arthritis, your physical therapist may recommend strengthening exercises to build muscle strength, range-of-motion exercises to reduce joint stiffness, and aerobic exercises to maintain overall fitness.
- Sprains, strains, and fractures: These often happen because of sports or other common incidents like falling or tripping over objects. For such injuries, your physical therapist may recommend RICE, i.e., rest, ice, compression, and elevation, followed by physical exercises for a short period to increase mobility.
- Parkinson's disease: This is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. People with Parkinson's experience tremors, rigid muscles, poor posture, imbalance, and loss of automatic movements like blinking. Physical therapy programs such as reciprocal movements, balance work, and amplitude training increase strength and help patients remain independent.
- Stroke: This can lead to disability and require physical therapy to restore physical function and relearn basic daily motor activities like walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.
Reasons to consult a physical therapist
Physical therapy can help treat many musculoskeletal conditions. However, knowing when to see a physical therapist may be confusing. Here are some indications that you may need to consult a physical therapist near you:
- If you have problems with balance and mobility
- If you frequently experience work-related injuries such as motion injuries or slip-and-fall accidents
- If pain medications have not been successful in relieving musculoskeletal pain
- You want to get back to exercising after sustaining a significant injury.
- If you still have dull or recurring pain from previously sustained or chronic injuries
- If you are noticing changes in the way you move or perform and need an expert to assess your form and mechanics
What to expect during your first physical therapy visit?
At your initial physical therapy appointment, you can expect your physical therapist to record your medical history. Before visiting one, make sure to prepare for questions they may ask regarding your pain symptoms and how long you've been experiencing them.
After understanding your symptoms and reviewing your health history, your therapist may conduct a general physical examination where they observe how you move, walk, stand, or balance. They may also perform muscle strength and neurological screening tests to narrow down the cause of your symptoms.
Depending on your condition, they will devise a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This plan may include using assistive devices such as a crutch or cane, exercising an injured part of the body using therapeutic aids like electrical stimulation machines, and performing hands-on techniques or stretching exercises. Your physical therapist will also help you prevent injuries or illnesses in the future.
Types of physical therapy treatments
Most physical therapy treatments aim to improve the patient's quality of life by increasing the range of motion of an injured body part or one that is affected by musculoskeletal disorders. The type and length of your rehabilitation program depend on your condition, severity, goals, and progress. When you visit a physical therapist near you, they may use a combination of two or more methods to treat your condition. Some common physical therapy treatments include:
- Exercises: These increase flexibility and a body part's range of motion. Some exercises can require a patient to relax (passive activities), while some need pressure to be applied to a body part (active exercises). Typical physical therapy exercises include stretching, hip rotations, squats, balancing, and forward step-ups.
- Massage therapy: This method involves using hands to apply pressure on a body part, helps to release tension or stress in that body part, and also helps the patient to relax. Some standard massage techniques include hot stone massage, lymphatic drainage massage, and trigger point massage.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound (not to be confused with a diagnostic ultrasound) is a method that utilizes deep heating to treat conditions like sprains, tendonitis, and strains. During an ultrasound, a physical therapist will first apply a small amount of gel to let the ultrasound waves be absorbed into the skin and muscles. They will then use a wand called a ‘sound head’ and press it gently against your skin. Subsequently, they will move around the wand in small circular motions near the injury site.
- Heat or ice therapy: Heat therapy may increase blood circulation and flow to the affected body part. Increasing temperature also improves flexibility and soothes discomfort. On the other hand, cryotherapy reduces the flow of blood to the affected body part. Cryotherapy also helps to decrease swelling and inflammation. Ice packs and ice massages to an injured body part also help to relieve pain.
Find a physical therapist near you in Fort Worth, Texas
Managing chronic conditions on your own can be challenging. Consider seeing a physical therapist if you or a family member suffers from pain or a condition that limits your mobility. Physical therapists are movement specialists who may help you improve your overall quality of life by providing workouts or appropriate equipment for your condition.
Are you looking for an experienced physical therapist in your area? Well, your search ends with Zocdoc. On Zocdoc, you can easily find top-rated physical therapists in and around Fort Worth, Texas, right from the comfort of your home and within minutes!
It only takes a few steps to book an online or in-person consultation. Visit the Zocdoc website and enter your symptoms or condition, location, appointment date, and insurance plan in the search bar. Once Zocdoc provides you with a list of matching provider profiles, you can click on the profiles to learn more about the provider. Each Zocodc provider profile is unique to the individual. It includes their specialty, educational qualifications, languages they speak, office location, wait time, time of day, distance, gender, and whether they provide pediatric care.
Zocdoc lists each provider's medical background, clinical experience, certifications, licensures, awards, and accreditations. You can also read the verified patient reviews and ratings on the provider's profile to understand how that provider helped other patients.
With Zocdoc, you can schedule an appointment with a physical therapist near you on the same day, 24 hours in advance, after 5 p.m., in the morning before 10 a.m., or even on the weekends, depending on the provider's availability.
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Statistics for conditions treated by physical therapists in Texas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, Texas employs nearly 14,040 physical therapists, the third highest in the United States, following California and New York. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, metropolitan area employs an estimated 3,920 physical therapists, representing one of the country's highest employment levels.
Data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that, in 2020, approximately 20.2% of adults above 18 in Texas had arthritis. Of the total population with arthritis, a higher percentage of females (23.5%) were diagnosed with arthritis than males (16.5%). Other health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are also linked with arthritis. In Texas, an estimated 25.4% of adults over 18 years of age with arthritis were obese. Nearly 29.3% had diabetes, and around 28.7% had heart disease. In 2019, roughly 45.3% of adults aged 18-64 faced work limitations due to arthritis. Overall, 34.2% of Texan adults with arthritis performed little to no physical activity in 2020.
A 2020 Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Division of Workers' Compensation report shows that fractures, traumatic injuries, sprains, strains, tears, soreness, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain accounted for a large majority of workplace injuries in Texas. Of these, sprains, strains, and tears comprised the highest number of cases, i.e., nearly 17,050. Of all the body parts affected, the most common included the upper extremities (shoulders, arms, and hands), head, and lower extremities, particularly knees, ankles, and feet. Overexertion falls, slips, and trips together accounted for over 26,000 injuries.
Sources
WebMD
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
National Institute on Aging
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Verywell Health[1]
Verywell Health[2]
Johns Hopkins Medicine
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
American Physical Therapy Association[1]
American Physical Therapy Association[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Texas Department of Insurance
Verywell Health[3]
Verywell Health[4]
Houston Methodist
Peconic Bay Medical Center
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Cornell Health
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