Who is a physical therapist?
A physical therapist, also referred to as a physiotherapist, is a healthcare provider who helps improve movement in the body. Physical therapy helps manage symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and discomfort that make movement difficult.
People typically work with a physical therapist during recovery from injury or surgery. However, rehabilitation is not the only way to work with a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy can also help you move more confidently and with better posture, which can treat specific health problems or prevent injuries.
The duration of physical therapy depends on which areas of the body need help and what problems or conditions led to the need for physical therapy. Some people may only need a few weeks of physiotherapy to fix a short-term problem or recover from a minor injury.
You can consult a physical therapist near you at a specialty clinic, hospital, or home, depending on where you live and the kind of physiotherapy you require. Working virtually with a physiotherapist via video call or telephone (telemedicine) is becoming more common.
A physical therapist can be part of your healthcare team, along with your primary care provider, to treat and prevent problems that make your mobility difficult.
What does a physical therapist do?
A physical therapist develops a customized set of exercises and movements to help you move your body quickly. They can help you:
- Cope with pain
- Reduce symptoms of other health conditions that affect mobility
- Increase your range of motion (how far you can safely move any body part)
- Recover from injury and prevent future damage
Physiotherapy aims to restore functionality in certain body parts by enhancing movement and expanding motion range. Ongoing physical therapy treatment may reduce your need for prescription medicines, surgery, and additional physical therapy in the future.
The daily tasks of a physical therapist involve the following:
- Observing you stand, walk around, and execute jobs to diagnose your problem and capacity to function.
- Taking note of your issues
- Creating a tailored care plan based on their observations of your situation, your goals, and your projected outcomes
- Utilizing therapeutic tools like electrical stimulation equipment or kinesthetic tape
- Keeping track of your progress
- Guiding you through the use of assistive devices such as a crutch or cane
- Making preparations to release you from care after recovery
The education and training of physical therapists
Physical therapists in the United States must have a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree authorized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Most DPT programs last about three years. Additionally, aspiring physiotherapists must clear the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to become certified practitioners. Finally, they must clear state-specific examinations to earn licensure and practice in their respective states.
DPT programs require a bachelor's degree in science before admission. Some schools allow students to participate in a 3+3 program format, entailing three years of doctoral training in physical therapy following three years of undergraduate studies.
About 80% of the curriculum in most DPT programs consists of classroom learning and lab work. The remaining 20% ​​is focused on hands-on clinical training. A PT student typically spends 27 weeks completing their final clinical training.
Some licensed physical therapists choose to gain more knowledge and experience by participating in a clinical residency or fellowship program. These advanced training programs allow specialization in a focus practice area. Finally, the American Board of Physical Therapy (ABPT) enables physical therapists to become board-certified clinical professionals.
Subspecialties in physical therapy
Nine different physical therapy specializations are certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties:
- Cardiovascular & pulmonary: Among these specializations is cardiovascular & pulmonary therapy. Experts in this area provide comprehensive care to patients recovering from heart attacks, living with heart disease, or seeking to improve their cardiac health. Additionally, they cater to individuals with pulmonary conditions like cystic fibrosis or sarcoidosis, assisting in managing these challenging ailments.
- Clinical electrophysiology: Clinical electrophysiology is a specialized field that delves into electrotherapy and wound management. It encompasses the assessment and intervention for abnormal neural or muscular functions. Electrotherapy techniques are applied to promote healing, prevent blood clots, reduce muscle spasms, enhance blood circulation, and relieve pain, making it indispensable in treating many conditions, including post-surgical wounds and diabetic ulcers.
- Geriatrics: Physical therapists specializing in geriatrics focus on addressing the unique health concerns of the elderly population. They relieve age-related issues such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and joint stiffness and support patients with progressive, incurable diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
- Neurology: Neurological physical therapists help treat disorders of the nervous and spinal systems, offering rehabilitation for various conditions such as brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, and cerebral palsy.
- Oncology: In the oncology specialty, physical therapists work with individuals diagnosed with or recovering from cancer. They provide essential care to manage the side effects of cancer treatment, addressing issues like pain, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and loss of bone density.
- Orthopedics: Orthopedic physical therapists concentrate on the musculoskeletal system, covering bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Their diverse patient base includes those suffering from arthritis, fractures, joint replacement surgeries, and sports-related injuries.
- Pediatrics: Pediatric physical therapists play a vital role in the early detection and treatment of health issues in infants, children, and adolescents. Their expertise is invaluable in managing injuries, disorders, and diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system, such as developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and torticollis.
- Sports: Sports physical therapists specialize in treating injuries stemming from athletic activities. They are well-equipped to manage common sports injuries like ACL tears, concussions, and various joint and muscle injuries, helping athletes recover and return to their chosen sports.
- Women's health: Women's health physical therapists focus on the unique healthcare needs of women, offering expertise in conditions such as pelvic pain and osteoporosis. They understand the intricacies of women's musculoskeletal systems and the gender-specific implications of various diseases.
Find the best physical therapist near you in Las Vegas, Nevada
A physical therapist can be an essential member of your healthcare team. They can help you improve mobility and flexibility and reduce pain. Hence, it is necessary to get professional guidance from a well-trained and experienced therapist. Locate the best physical therapist near you with Zocdoc. Through Zocdoc, you can access highly qualified professionals who provide first-class care near you.
To find the physiotherapist best suited to your needs, sign up for a free Zocdoc account. Enter your location, insurance company, condition or symptoms, and desired appointment date. If you need to clarify your insurance information, Zocdoc's insurance detector can help. Once you input your requirements, a list of doctors matching your search criteria will be displayed. Advanced parameters such as gender, hospital affiliation, and preferred language can help narrow your search even further.
Additionally, professional biographies are available on each physical therapist's profile page. The profile includes their educational experience, areas of expertise, location, and board certifications, among other details. After a patient completes their visit, Zocdoc prompts them to leave a review. With the help of these authenticated patient reviews, it becomes easier for you to choose the right practitioner. On Zocdoc, you can book both face-to-face and video appointments. Video booking options can be filtered by looking for the purple video icon on the specialist's profile.
With Zocodc, making appointments with the best physical therapists near you is easy, secure, and free.
Statistics on physical therapists in Nevada
As per the American Physical Therapy Association, in 2019, the average physical therapy clinic saw between 101 and 200 patients per week. Based on the reports by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2021, roughly 225,350 physical therapists were active in the US. There were approximately 1,860 physiotherapists in Nevada; of those, nearly 1,420 were practicing in the Las Vegas-Henderson metropolitan area. The report also stated that most physical therapy patients were aged over 65, roughly 36% of all patients.
Following the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS), as of 2018, there were roughly 98 physical therapy specialists in Nevada: 4 in women's health, 3 in pediatric, 6 in geriatric, 7 in neurological, 13 in sports, 2 in pulmonary and cardiovascular and 67 in orthopedic physiotherapy.
Source
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Good Body
APTA Specialist Certification
Verywell Health
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