Who is a physical therapist?
A physical therapist diagnoses and provides care for movement-related health issues, which may also prevent or limit mobility in some parts of the body. They also help to manage pain related to these challenges. Physical therapy includes specific exercises, massages, and treatments based on physical stimuli like heat, cold, electrical currents, or ultrasound. The overall aim of these treatments is to improve mobility, coordination, and muscle strength. Physical therapists, also known as physiotherapists, practice in outpatient and inpatient settings. Outpatient physiotherapy is what most people refer to when they talk about physiotherapy.
What are the educational requirements to become a physical therapist?
After earning a bachelor's degree in a related field, physiotherapists undergo a DPT (Doctor of Physiotherapy) program. You can earn a bachelor's degree in any health science, exercise, or sports area. Moreover, all states in the U.S. require physical therapists to have a license.
To get the permit, a candidate should also clear the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Licensed physiotherapists can further undergo residency or fellowship programs to gain added experience and knowledge. All in all, it takes three to eight years to become a physiotherapist. Additionally, they can get further board certifications with specialization.
What are the different physical therapy specialties?
Physical therapy is a large field that needs highly skilled professionals. Physiotherapists can grow beyond basic skills and specialize in specific areas such as cardiovascular and pulmonary, geriatrics, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, oncology, women's health, electrophysiologic clinical, sports, and wound management.
These are all different specialties within physical therapy. Each has its certification criteria, as the American Board of Physical Therapy requires.
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist: Cardiovascular and pulmonary specialists play a vital role in rehabilitating and treating individuals with heart problems, such as myocardial infarction, or respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their practice involves closely monitored exercise regimens and therapies to enhance cardiovascular and pulmonary function.
- Geriatric clinical specialist: Geriatric physical therapists improve the quality of life for elderly patients, focusing on maintaining their safety while facilitating an active lifestyle. They provide short-term and long-term rehabilitation, helping seniors recover from illness, manage chronic diseases, and regain independence, promoting overall well-being in the later stages of life.
- Orthopedic clinical specialist: Orthopedic specialists offer targeted treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders to enhance function and alleviate pain. They also develop comprehensive care plans for patients recovering from orthopedic surgeries, aiding their swift and effective rehabilitation.
- Neurology clinical specialist: Neurology specialists treat patients with nervous system injuries and disorders, including chronic headaches, seizures, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Their expertise lies in helping patients manage and alleviate neurological symptoms.
- Pediatric clinical specialist: Pediatric specialists focus on devising specialized treatment plans for children and teenagers with specific medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis, autism, Down's Syndrome, and more. Some therapists specialize further by working with particular age groups, including newborns.
- Oncology specialist: Oncology specialists care for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy or recently completed these treatments. Their role involves addressing the unique physical challenges and rehabilitation needs that cancer patients may face.
- Women's health specialist: Women's health specialists offer comprehensive care for many conditions affecting women, including post-partum pelvic pain, menopausal symptoms, pregnancy-related incontinence, and more, focusing on enhancing women's overall well-being.
- Electrophysiologic clinical specialist: Electrophysiologic specialists manage nerve and muscle damage conditions. They conduct diagnostic tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) to pinpoint and address neurological issues.
- Sports clinical specialist: Sports specialists cater to athletes from weekend warriors to elite professionals. They work on preventing and treating physiological, pathological, or performance-related problems in the context of sports, enabling athletes to perform at their best.
- Wound management specialist: Wound management specialists specialize in treating and preventing integumentary (skin and tissue) issues, ensuring optimal healing and minimizing complications.
What does physical therapy involve?
In your first physiotherapy session, the physiotherapist will try to understand your history, if any, and how the condition or disease affects your daily life. The physical therapist will show you how to do specific exercises and suggest a routine for you to practice. You will need to do them regularly at home for maximum benefit. The physical therapist might suggest other lifestyle changes, all of which aim at restoring your previous level of function.
Besides exercises, physiotherapists perform massages and hand movements to relax muscles and connective tissue. Physical therapy treatments based on physical stimuli include massage to drain fluid from the tissue, treatment with a weak electric current or electrotherapy, heat therapy using warm baths, warm mud packs, heat lamps, or ultrasound, and cold treatment using cold packs or air.
How does physical therapy help?
Physical therapy treatments focus on various aspects depending on the condition or disease. Physical therapy has many benefits, including restoring the ability to move normally, improved circulation and metabolism, pain relief, and improved strength and coordination. Physiotherapy can also help reduce the symptoms of chronic diseases and avoid the worsening of those symptoms. Consider physical therapy a highly effective option before surgery for managing conditions like spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, rotator cuff tears, meniscal tears, and knee osteoarthritis.
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.
When should you see a physical therapist near you?
It would be best to approach a physical therapist if you experience musculoskeletal problems. These problems or issues refer to compromised movement of or injury to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. Another reason to see a physiotherapist is for rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery, known as the post-op rehabilitation process. In this case, you may need a prescription from a doctor. Aside from these reasons, you should approach a physical therapist if you suffer from any chronic or acute conditions listed below.
- Back pain: It refers to any discomfort or pain in the back or spine.
- Wear and tear problems: Degenerative bone changes cause joint pain and stiffness and interfere with everyday activities.
- Pelvic floor problems: Problems like incontinence occur due to muscle weakening in the pelvic region and are common in older women.
- Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis, also called wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis refers to a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. It generally worsens with age.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic autoimmune disorder distinguished by joint inflammation and discomfort.
- Cardiovascular diseases: These refer to heart and blood vessel-related conditions.
- Respiratory diseases: Diseases affecting the airways, lungs, and breathing.
- Neurological diseases: Nerve-related diseases like Parkinson's, strokes, or multiple sclerosis
- Developmental problems in children: The problems that affect growing children's bone development and muscle function.
FAQs on preparing for a physical therapist appointment
Are you wondering how to maximize your first visit with a physical therapist? You can review the following FAQs to get all the information you need to prepare for your appointment.
What should I carry to the first appointment?
You must arrive 15 minutes early to your appointment with the necessary documentation to complete the initial paperwork. Here's a list of everything you should carry:
- A referral letter from your doctor
- A list of your healthcare providers
- Your insurance card
- A photo ID
- Personal and emergency contact information
- Your medical records
What will the physical therapist ask me?
During the initial discussion, your physical therapist will ask various questions to understand your symptoms, medical history, and family history. It will help them diagnose your problem accurately and develop a relevant treatment plan. It is a good idea to prepare answers to expected questions, including:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- Are your symptoms constant or occur during specific times?
- What makes your symptoms better or worse?
- How is your condition affecting your daily life?
- Do you have any chronic conditions or allergies?
- Did you sustain an injury or undergo any procedure in the last few months?
- Did you experience any stressful events recently?
- Do you take any prescription or over-the-counter medications?
- What conditions run in your immediate family?
How should I dress up?
Your first appointment will involve a comprehensive physical examination, which will require you to move around, stretch, and perform other physical activities. Your provider will also want to inspect the affected areas. So, it is important to dress appropriately in loose, comfortable clothing such as a T-shirt, sweat pants or shorts, and athletic shoes.
Can I bring someone along for the first physical therapy session?
Absolutely! Receiving a new diagnosis and starting a new treatment plan can be overwhelming. Bringing a supportive and reliable family member or friend along can help calm your nerves. Plus, they can help you remember important details during the discussion and take notes for your reference.
How can you find the best physical therapist near you in Haverhill, Massachusetts?
Are you looking for the best physiotherapist? Let Zocdoc connect you with the best ones in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Here are the steps you can follow on Zocdoc to ensure the best physical therapy is available near you.
- Create a free account on Zocdoc.
- Type in the condition or specialty, location, date, and insurance plan on the Zocdoc search bar.
- You will now get a list of the best-rated physical therapists in and around your location.
Zocdoc will also show you the 'In Network' doctors (those who accept your insurance). Additionally, you can upload your insurance card securely and hassle-free. Zocdoc prioritizes your privacy and security and follows the industry's best practices to safeguard your information. You can read more about how Zocdoc handles data and privacy and check out Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
Further, you can narrow the search results based on gender, languages spoken, hospital affiliations, and whether or not they treat kids. Each physiotherapist on Zocdoc will have a profile, which includes a brief introduction, education qualifications, practice location, and, most importantly, verified patient ratings and reviews.
Once you choose the best option, you can book an in-person or online visit. So, if you are looking for the best way to locate highly recommended physiotherapists in Haverhill, Zocdoc is the place for you.
Booking appointments with the best physical therapist near you on Zocdoc is safe, secure, and 100% free.
Statistics on physiotherapists in Haverhill, Massachusetts
As per the data published in the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, there are about 3,410 physical therapists in Massachusetts' neighboring state, Connecticut. The number for the same is over 110,566 for the entire country. Notably, out % of all the practicing physiotherapists in the U.S., 63.7% are women, while 36.3% are men. Further, the average age of a practicing physical therapist is 41 years old.
The demand for physiotherapists is increasing in the U.S. due to factors such as an aging American population, ongoing sports injuries, joint replacement surgeries, rising obesity levels, and the cost-effective methods and success ratio of outpatient rehab. According to market data analysis, the revenue growth of the physiotherapy domain has been steady since 2017. Interestingly, physical therapists are in demand in New York, another state neighboring Massachusetts.
Sources
Renew Accident & Injury Chiropractic Clinic
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
National Center for Biotechnology Information
WebMD
Verywell Health[1]
Verywell Health[2]
Verywell Health[3]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Zippia
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Elite Learning
ChoosePT
BenchMark Physical Therapy
