Book 25+ of the best Physical Therapists near me in Nashville, TN

Who is a physical therapist?

Physical therapists help patients with movement problems resulting from injuries or illnesses. They can create a recovery plan using a combination of exercise, hands-on techniques, stretches, or equipment. Their treatment can improve the patient’s range of motion and help them avoid surgery and medication. 

Physical therapists often work closely with other specialists, such as surgeons, doctors, physical therapy assistants, and social workers, to treat patients. Additionally, they treat people of all ages, from infants to older people. They can work in schools, fitness centers, nursing homes, patient’s homes, clinics, hospitals, and workplaces.

What kind of education and training do physical therapists receive?

To become a physical therapist, students must gain six to seven years of higher education. Firstly, one must complete a physical therapy program. One can complete a Bachelor’s degree and then do a Doctorate in physical therapy. Alternatively, one can choose a 3+3 years physical therapy program combining these two degrees. 

A physical therapist must apply for state licensure to begin practice. Some physical therapists prefer to study further by doing a residency or fellowship. Here, they receive advanced training under the guidance of experts. These therapists specialize and become experts in a specific area.

Physical therapists can also become board-certified by applying to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. They require a doctoral degree in physical therapy and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience for such certification. They also need to clear a certification exam.

Why should one visit a physical therapist?

One need not visit a physical therapist only for illnesses or pain. Many people see them to improve their health and avoid future problems. 

Physical therapists can help you if you have any issues that limit your range of motion. Besides, they can treat problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and respiratory diseases affecting the airways. These therapists can also treat cancer-related complications, chronic pain, diabetes, fractures, multiple traumas, and multiple sclerosis. 

One can also visit physical therapists for wear-and-tear problems or injuries of the joints, tendons, or muscles. They can treat pelvic floor issues such as pain or incontinence and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, or Parkinson’s. These therapists can also monitor and help with developmental problems in children, which affect the bones and muscles.

A few other problems for which you can visit a physical therapist include:

• Obesity
• Muscle strains
• Lymphedema
• Joint injuries
• Fibromyalgia
• Fall risk and balance issues
• Cystic fibrosis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Post-operative rehabilitation
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Sports injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and congenital disabilities

What therapies or treatments do physical therapists offer?

Physical therapists often recommend exercises to improve the movement of limbs and joints. They can also provide hands-on techniques or passive exercises where they move parts of the patient’s body in a particular way. This is generally to improve mobility in a locked or stiff joint. 

The therapist may recommend massages or other therapy treatments based on physical stimuli. These include hot and cold therapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound, aquatic therapy, and manual lymphatic drainage or massage to drain fluid from the tissues. Depending on the patient's requirement, they may use these therapies separately or in combination.

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, they will try to learn about your health condition, your previous level of functionality before the condition progressed, and how it affects your life. After that, they will take specific measurements of the impairments that are the reason behind the functionality issues and put together a treatment plan. 

Before your initial evaluation, you should write down essential facts about your condition's history to ensure you get all the information. Some checklist questions can be:

1. When and how did your disorder begin?
2. What was your functional mobility status before your injury or disorder?
3. How often do your symptoms recur?
4. How is the disorder evolving?
5. What feels relaxing or distressing in terms of your disorder?

Also, remember to carry your past medications list and other past surgeries or procedures information. 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. 

During the initial examination, common measurements are taken to understand your condition better. These measurements are related 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 to expect during your first visit to a physical therapist near you?

You may require a referral from your doctor to visit a physical therapist. If you are under 18, having a parent or guardian with you is better because they will support you during the session and help you with the recommended exercises. Wear loose-fitting clothes when visiting a physical therapist because they will ask you to move your limbs to check your range of motion. They may ask you to perform specific tasks or stand and walk about. 

The physical therapist will check any notes from the referring physician and ask you more about your problem. They might ask you where your pain falls on a scale from 0 to 10. The physical therapist will prepare a treatment plan based on the diagnosis, especially customized for you. They will write down some exercises and ask you to perform them. Be sure to tell them if you are facing further pain while doing the exercises so they can modify them if necessary. This will avoid further injury. 

Depending on your problem, they might recommend other therapies. You will have to revisit the physical therapist so that they can monitor your progress or change the exercises or treatment if necessary.

Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy

Physical and occupational therapy share many similarities but have distinct differences in their approach to a patient's rehabilitative care. One fundamental difference is that physical therapy improves patients' ability to move their bodies. In contrast, occupational therapy aims to improve the patient's ability to perform daily activities. 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.

Finding a good physical therapist near you

Pain or limited mobility is something that most people go through in life. Most of the time, your primary care physician's recommended drugs and other treatments should reduce discomfort. But you might need to see a physical therapist if it persists despite medication and begins to compromise your general quality of life.

You can find the top physical therapists near you on Zocdoc. Locate the search bar on the website and fill it out with the necessary details, including specialization (physical therapist), location (Nashville, Tennessee), preferred consultation date, and insurance information. After that, click the "Find" button to get a list of all the in-network providers.

You can utilize the Zocdoc criteria to narrow your search even further. You can filter for preferences like the expert's gender, languages spoken, appointment time, and preferred travel distance. You can filter the results when scheduling an appointment to display in-network providers. Although in-person consultations are preferable, you can look for experts who allow video visits if there are any travel restrictions or difficulties.

You can review expert profiles to discover more about them once the search results appear. The profiles display their education and training, board certifications, awards, specializations, backgrounds and qualifications, and hospital affiliations. You can also check whether they treat children.

You may also read patient reviews to learn more about the expert and find answers to any unresolved questions. Once you've decided on a physical therapist near you, you can schedule an appointment during office hours, before 10 a.m., after 5 p.m., or on weekends, depending on their availability.

Booking appointments on Zocdoc is simple, safe, and free!

Statistics on physical therapists and arthritis in Tennessee

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee had about 4,470 physical therapists as of May 2021. In the U.S., physical therapist jobs should grow by 17% from 2021 to 2031. This is much more than the average for all other healthcare occupations.

Furthermore, over the decade, there will be around 15,400 openings for physical therapists across the country annually due to retiring physical therapists and those who transfer to other occupations. 

Physical therapists can help with complications from chronic illnesses such as arthritis and diabetes. In 2021, about 30.1% of adults in Tennessee had some form of arthritis, according to America's Health Rankings. This was higher than the national average of 25.8%. Women (34.6%) were more likely to have arthritis than men (25.4%). The condition’s incidence also increased with age, with 54.4% of those 65 and above having arthritis. The percentage was lower in those aged 18 to 44 (11.7%) and those aged 45 to 64 (38.7%).

Sources

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Verywell Health

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

National Library of Medicine

Explorehealthcareers.org

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]

America’s Health Rankings

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.