Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists are healthcare specialists who use equipment and exercise regimens to treat patients' irregular physical functioning and mobility-related issues. They evaluate a patient's condition, such as disease, disability, or injury, and provide appropriate and personalized treatment. They aim to improve an individual's range of movement and quality of life, preventing further damage or disability.
A physical therapist assists and cares for patients throughout the phases of healing, from the initial diagnosis to the therapeutic and preventive stages of recovery. Individuals can either be referred to a physical therapist by a doctor or seek therapy themselves.
Physical therapist: Education and training
While physical therapists are not Doctors of Medicine (MDs), they earn a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT). It involves education in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and clinical reasoning. After completing a DPT program, some physical therapists may specialize and develop advanced clinical knowledge in a particular part of the body, organ system, age-group-related conditions, or gender-specific treatment.
The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties offers 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
What are some conditions treated using physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a noninvasive rehabilitative discipline that improves a person's quality of life. It combines treatments such as massage, specific exercises, stretching, and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
Because of various treatments, the list of conditions treated by physical therapy is comprehensive. It can help with neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease, genetic or musculoskeletal disorders, sports injuries, or typical issues such as dizziness, headaches, and back and neck pain.
Under musculoskeletal disorders, physical therapy can treat arthritis, muscular dystrophy, osteoporosis, and various spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disorder, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, sacroiliitis, and sciatica. Other than the abovementioned diseases, conditions including obesity, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome are also managed with physical therapy.
What are the benefits of physical therapy?
Physical therapy can offer many benefits for patients. Apart from healing, it can also enhance performance in your chosen sport. Some of its common advantages include the following:
- Pain relief: Physical therapy is often used to treat pain caused by injuries or chronic conditions. Focusing on the cause of the problem can be a very efficient approach to relieving pain, rehabilitating, and regaining function.
- Increased mobility: Physical therapy is particularly beneficial for patients with movement-limiting conditions such as arthritis or stroke, helping to improve their mobility.
- Improved balance and coordination: Physical therapy improves balance and coordination and is a preventive measure. Many older patients use physical therapy to decrease their dependence on walkers or canes, helping them avoid falls and the resulting fractures and injuries.
- Increased post-trauma strength: Physical therapy can alleviate symptoms from various injuries or incidents, such as strokes or car accidents. A specialist can assess which muscle areas require attention and suggest specific exercises to target those areas. Over time, this can help patients improve strength, flexibility, and overall health and, in some instances, potentially avoid surgery.
Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy
Physical and occupational therapy share many similarities but differ in rehabilitative care approaches. One fundamental difference is that physical therapy improves patients' ability to move their bodies. In contrast, occupational therapy helps improve a patient's ability to perform activities in their day-to-day life. Besides, physical therapy's foundation is bodily rehabilitation, whereas occupational therapy is in mental healthcare and physical rehabilitation.
Occupational therapy heavily focuses on adapting, modifying, or changing the daily activities an individual is required to or wants to do. They might alter the activity, environment, or person's skills. At the person's skill level, an occupational therapist might help an individual improve their fine motor skills (small movements made with their upper body). These movements are necessary for daily activities such as picking up a toothbrush, brushing their teeth, using a phone, or driving.
For individuals with mental health-related issues, an occupational therapist might improve their skills by increasing positive coping strategies that allow them to function daily.
Chiropractors vs. physical therapists
Chiropractors and physical therapists are licensed professionals specializing in treating and managing chronic body pain, stiffness, and discomfort using various treatment approaches. After assessing each client's needs, injury type, and body ailment, they aim to improve patients' flexibility and mobility through a personalized plan. Although both are qualified to treat and co-treat a broad spectrum of diseases and health issues, their techniques and perspectives may differ.
A chiropractor pays attention to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, including joints, muscles, tendons, and functions. They emphasize spinal and bone alignment and manipulation to alleviate pain and inflammation. After evaluating symptoms, they may recommend massages, lifestyle changes, and dietary modifications.
On the other hand, a physical therapist focuses on restoring mobility, strength, and body functioning and managing pain and discomfort in ill or injured patients after thorough evaluation and diagnosis. They design a treatment plan based on postures, exercises, and stretches.
The role of geriatric physical therapy
Geriatric physical therapy is a specialized method that addresses the unique requirements and obstacles that older persons face. As people age, they often lose muscle strength, coordination, response time, and tolerance for physical exertion. This therapy, typically provided by physical therapists, is designed to help older persons retain mobility, strength, and overall physical health through specific exercises and activity recommendations.
Geriatric physical therapy includes various activities to increase strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance. These exercises aid in daily activities, improve movement, and avoid deconditioning. Physical therapists use the following exercises:
- Lower body stretches: Physical therapists emphasize stretches for hamstrings, the lower back, and hip flexors to promote appropriate joint alignment and mobility. These stretches prevent tightness and stiffness, which can impair muscle action.
- Lower body strengthening exercises: Exercises that target the glutes and quads, such as sit-to-stands, squats, step-ups, leg lifts, and bridges, can assist older persons in maintaining muscle strength.
- Endurance training: Therapists use endurance training to maintain heart and lung health and enhance circulation. It is frequently done on cardiovascular equipment such as stationary bikes and treadmills.
- Balance exercises: Balance exercises assist older persons in maintaining equilibrium while standing, walking, and changing directions. Therapists perform static balance exercises on level and uneven surfaces, weight-shifting, marching, and heel-toe tandem walking.
Geriatric physical therapy frequently includes body-weight exercises that improve mobility without excessive strain. Light weights or resistance bands may be added to provide extra resistance safely.
How to prepare for the first physical therapist visit?
If you suffer from an injury or ailment that causes pain or difficulty with functional mobility, you will benefit from the proficient services of a physical therapist.
The first session with a physical therapist is called an initial evaluation. During this session, the therapist will try to learn about your health condition, your previous level of functionality before the ailment progressed, and how it affects your life. After that, the therapist will take specific measurements of the impairments that are the reason behind the functionality issues and put together a treatment plan.
Before seeing a physical therapist near you, you should note essential facts about your condition's history to ensure you get all the information. Some checklist questions can be:
- When and how did your disorder begin?
- Before your injury or disease, what was your functional mobility status?
- How often do your symptoms recur?
- How is the disorder evolving?
- What feels relaxing or distressing in terms of your condition?
Also, remember to keep a list of information about your past medications and other past surgeries or procedures. Given your constant movement and need for easier access to your target areas, you should ask your physical therapist what you should wear and if there is a space to change.
Standard evaluations help the therapist understand your condition better during the initial examination. These relate to balance, functional mobility, neurological screening tests, palpation, range of motion (ROM), and strength tests. Once the exam is complete, you can start your physical therapy treatment plan.
What treatments do physical therapists offer?
A physical therapist may use one or a combination of two modalities or treatment methods to help improve a patient's endurance, strength, or range of motion. Treatment methods depend on a patient's symptoms, severity of injury or illness, and goals. Different modalities can be helpful at various stages of your recovery. Your physical therapist may also ask you to implement some exercises at home.
Some common treatments physical therapists offer include-
- Therapeutic ultrasound: Unlike diagnostic ultrasound, a therapeutic ultrasound used in physical therapy involves deep heating soft tissues such as muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. The heating process decreases pain, increases the elasticity of the affected area, and increases circulation to the injured area. Therapeutic ultrasound can help treat musculoskeletal injuries like strains, frozen shoulders, and tears.
- Exercises: This method uses controlled physical activity to increase the body's range of motion or flexibility. Physical therapists may recommend passive exercises, which require a patient to relax while a professional applies physical stress to the affected area. Active exercises such as hip strengthening can be done independently by a patient.
- Traction: This method helps treat problems like low back and neck pain. It improves mobility in the spine and ultimately reduces pain. It separates the joints and disc spaces in the lower back or neck, decreasing pressure on spinal nerves.
- 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. In contrast, cryotherapy or cold therapy reduces blood flow to the affected body part. It also helps to decrease swelling and inflammation. Ice packs and ice massages can help relieve pain.
Find the best physical therapists near you in Hackensack, NJ
Are you seeking a healthcare provider to help reduce pain or recover post-surgery in Hackensack, New Jersey? Do you want to improve your mobility-related issues after an injury or illness? If so, an experienced and certified physical therapist can help you by providing the best treatment plan and exercises to enhance your quality of life.
With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best physical therapist in your area. Begin a search by entering your location (Hackensack, New Jersey), the specialist you need (physical therapist), symptoms, and insurance plan. Zocdoc will show you an extensive and filtered list of the best physical therapists matching your requirements.
When scheduling an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll be prompted to share your insurance information or confirm that you'll pay out-of-pocket. Some providers require insurance details to book appointments, but if you prefer not to share or use insurance, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc who accepts self-pay patients. You can visit Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related questions.
At Zocdoc, transparency is vital. Hence, each physical therapist's profile will include a brief introduction, educational qualifications, practice location, visit reasons, and patient ratings and reviews. Once you have chosen a physical therapist near you fitting your requirements, you can book an in-person or video appointment based on their availability.
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, free, and secure!
Physical health in Hackensack, NJ, US
According to the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services (State of New Jersey), arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the state, affecting nearly 1.5 million citizens. Out of those involved, around 78% are diagnosed but not receiving any treatment, and almost half of the diagnosed population does not know what type of arthritis they have. Compared to men (≈20%), women are more likely to be affected by arthritis (≈28%). In New Jersey, the estimated annual cost of arthritis is over 3 billion dollars for medical care and lost productivity.
As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics for 2015, an estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans had chronic fatigue syndrome. However, about 91% of them remained undiagnosed.
According to the State of New Jersey Department of Health, nearly 1.5 million individuals in New Jersey risk developing or already have osteoporosis.
Sources
Renew Accident & Injury Chiropractic Clinic
St. Luke's Health
State of New Jersey Department of Health
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
XCell Orthopaedics Physical Therapy
Verywell Health[1]
Verywell Health[2]
Verywell Health[3]
American Physical Therapy Association[1]
American Physical Therapy Association[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Verywell Health[4]
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