What are physical therapists?
Physical therapists are healthcare specialists who help manage illnesses and injuries affecting the bones, muscles, brain, heart, lungs, and skin. They can care for people of all ages who may be at different stages of life. People also frequent a physical therapist's office to seek advice on becoming healthier and preventing future problems.
Physical therapists work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, athletic facilities, schools, clinics, etc. Their treatment may include exercises, stretching, using different types of equipment, and other hands-on techniques. They aim to help patients restore the hampered functionality of affected body parts and improve movement. Physical therapy, if continued, can help reduce the need for prescription drugs, surgery, or other complex treatments.
Aspiring doctors must earn a Doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program to begin practicing as a physical therapist. These generally last around three years and help build an understanding of biology, physiology, anatomy, biomechanics, endocrine, and metabolic functions, etc., in future doctors.
In a DPT program, prospective doctors also gain exposure to clinical experience. They must then participate in a clinical residency or fellowship program to gain experience in a defined practice area. Prospective doctors can become pediatric physical therapists, geriatric clinical specialists, orthopedic clinical specialists, or more. Lastly, they must get board-certified by clearing examinations conducted by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
Physical therapy subspecialties
ABPTS, The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, acknowledges ten subspecialties that allow physical therapists to gain advanced knowledge and skills in specialized practice areas. These subspecialties are as follows:
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy: These therapists are at the forefront of managing individuals with heart or lung conditions. They work with patients who have experienced heart attacks, undergone heart surgery or have chronic respiratory disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. These specialists use exercise and breathing techniques to improve cardiovascular endurance, respiratory function, and overall functional abilities. Their expertise enables patients to regain independence, enhance their quality of life, and reduce the risk of future cardiac or pulmonary events.
- Clinical electrophysiology physical therapy: Clinical electrophysiology physical therapists focus on treating neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions using electrophysical agents. These agents include electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and biofeedback. By applying these modalities, therapists can enhance muscle function, promote tissue healing, and manage pain effectively. This subspecialty is crucial in rehabilitation after surgeries or nerve injuries and helps patients regain strength and function.
- Geriatric physical therapy: As the population ages, the need for senior physical therapists becomes increasingly essential. These specialists work with older adults to address age-related conditions, mobility challenges, and balance issues. Geriatric physical therapists design personalized exercise programs to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination to reduce the risk of falls and maintain independence in daily activities.
- Neurologic physical therapy: Neurologic physical therapists help patients with neurological disorders or injuries, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. These specialists focus on restoring movement, balance, and coordination through targeted rehabilitation interventions. Additionally, they address pain management and provide valuable support to improve patients' overall quality of life.
- Orthopedic physical therapy: Orthopedic physical therapists treat musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including fractures, joint replacements, and sprains. They employ manual therapy and therapeutic exercises to promote healing and improve mobility. Their expertise ensures patients receive the most effective and evidence-based care for musculoskeletal issues.
- Pediatric physical therapy: Pediatric physical therapists are crucial in addressing the unique needs of infants, children, and adolescents with developmental, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders. Early intervention and therapeutic support help children achieve developmental milestones, improve motor skills, and enhance their overall physical function.
- Sports physical therapy: Sports physical therapists focus on evaluating and treating athletes with sports-related injuries. They are essential in rehabilitation, injury prevention, and performance enhancement for sportspersons of all levels. With their specialized knowledge, athletes can safely return to their chosen sports and achieve peak performance.
- Women's health physical therapy: These therapists provide specialized care to women experiencing musculoskeletal issues related to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Their interventions help women regain strength and comfort, particularly after childbirth or surgery, contributing to improved overall well-being.
- Oncology physical therapy: Oncology physical therapists specialize in caring for individuals diagnosed with cancer. They address the physical side effects of cancer treatments, manage pain, and help patients maintain or improve their functional abilities. This subspecialty is crucial in enhancing the quality of life of individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
- Wound management physical therapy: These therapists focus on assessing and treating various types of wounds, particularly those related to compromised circulation, diabetes, or traumatic injuries. Their expertise helps expedite wound healing, reduce infection risk, and prevent further complications, ensuring patients' well-being.
How can physical therapy help you?
Typically, a physical therapist can provide supportive treatment for various medical conditions. While they don't work independently on pure musculoskeletal disorders, physical therapists can help optimize recovery or educate patients who suffer from other ailments. Some of these conditions may include:
- Conditions of the hand like trigger finger or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Musculoskeletal dysfunction includes back pain, joint disorders, rotator cuff tears, etc.
- Cardiopulmonary conditions, including cystic fibrosis, post-myocardial infarction, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
- Neurological conditions include stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, etc.
- Pediatric conditions, including muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.
- Sports-related injuries like tennis elbow, concussion, etc.
- Female pelvic floor dysfunction like lymphedema, urinary incontinence, etc.
- Skin conditions, including burns, diabetic ulcers, wound care, etc.
The benefits of physical therapy broadly include the following:
- Avoiding surgical procedures
- Improving movement and mobility
- Preventing falls
- Helping in pain management and reducing dependence on opioids
- Recovering from injury, trauma, stroke, or paralysis
- Improving balance
- Managing age-related medical issues
Common reasons to visit a physical therapist
Physical therapists help treat injuries and illnesses and help patients enhance healing and gain strength and mobility post-operation. Following are a few of these common reasons people generally seek physical therapy:
- Increasing athletic performance: Professional and recreational athletes often work with physical therapists to improve their performance. They monitor their client's performance, screen for potential injury risks, and design customized exercise plans to help athletes compete to their best abilities.
- Preventing future conditions: Physical therapy helps prevent aches, muscle-related injuries, pains, and potential surgery. Physical therapists can screen for orthopedic dysfunctions, improve posture, enhance activity levels, teach preventative measures, and make patients more aware of movement.
- Managing aging: With age, the risk of losing muscle mass and strength increases, making it harder to balance body weight. In such cases, a physical therapist can help address joint, osteoarthritis, and arthritic pain. They help their patients make adjustments and modifications to fulfill everyday activities, such as climbing up or down the stairs, getting out of a chair, etc. Physical therapists help move seniors confidently while mitigating the risk of injuries and falls.
- Helping control a condition or disease: The scope of practice of a physical therapist can extend beyond rehabilitation centers. They help people with conditions affecting their lungs, heart, or weight. Many physical therapists also specialize in treating pelvic floor dysfunction or pain. Physical therapy can help people with type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Finding a top-rated physical therapist in New Braunfels
When it comes to finding healthcare practitioners, finding one that fulfills all your expectations can be a challenge. The task gets even more challenging when hundreds of options exist. To help you with this dilemma, Zocdoc is the perfect one-stop destination for all your healthcare needs. Head to Zocdoc.com or use our application and start your search. Enter details like the specialty type (e.g., pediatric physical therapist), preferred location, date, and insurance carrier plan. You can also search based on the symptoms or conditions in place of specialty type.
Zocdoc will display a directory of healthcare practitioner profiles, browsing through which you can learn about their educational qualifications, licensure, experience, and areas of expertise. You can also view their ratings, accreditations, and awards. Further, you can add filters to find practitioners who accept your insurance plan, whether they treat children, the languages they speak, etc.
After browsing and creating a shortlist, you can go through reviews left by our users. Zocdoc regularly verifies the ratings and reviews to help you make an informed decision. After you have shortlisted your choice, you can book an appointment. With Zocdoc, you can book an in-person visit or online consultation.
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Physical therapy statistics in New Braunfels, Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services published a Health Professions Resource Center report in 2019. According to the report, around 16,973 active and licensed physical therapists were practicing in Texas in 2019, marking an increase of around 29.2% from 2014 to almost 69.5% since 2009. It also revealed a disparity between physical therapist concentrations in different parts of the state, with almost a 50.4% difference between the practitioners in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
The same report shows that in 2019, approximately 68.6% of the physical therapists active in the state were women, and about 31.4% were men. Roughly 4.0% of the active physical therapists were over 65, while nearly 49.1% were 40 or younger. In the state, geriatrics had the highest percentage of physical therapists, with around 32.3% of the therapists choosing it as their primary practice specialty. The report also showed that in the practice setting, the maximum number of physical therapists were engaged in outpatient facilities, followed by home health care and hospital settings.
The Texas Department of State Health Services revealed that in September 2019, Comal county, where New Braunfels is located, was home to about 146 practicing physical therapists. Thus, there was one physical therapist for almost every 977.4 people in the county. As per the Department, the county was ranked sixth due to its ratio of physical therapists to 100,000 population being around 102.3.
Sources
Texas Department of State Health Services[1]
Texas Department of State Health Services[2]
WebMD
MedicalNewsToday
Banner Health
Cleveland Clinic
American Physical Therapy Association
