Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapy is a conservative approach to addressing different musculoskeletal problems. A physical therapist identifies and treats movement disorders, chronic and acute diseases, and injuries. They help you manage symptoms restricting your range of motion, such as pain, stiffness, and discomfort, and improve your body's movement by modifying your physical posture. In addition to preventing further injury or disability, physical therapy aims to enhance a person's quality of life.
Physical therapists are licensed to work in several healthcare settings, including outpatient clinics, private practices, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, home healthcare, sports and fitness facilities, schools, hospices, etc.
Physical therapy, physiotherapy, and kinesiotherapy
There is no distinction between kinesiotherapy, physiotherapy, and physical therapy. These terms all describe the same types of medical care. Whatever you choose to call it, your physical therapist will assist you in moving more effectively and with greater assurance. In the United States, patients and healthcare providers frequently refer to physical therapy as the treatment and physical therapists as the professionals who perform it.
Physiotherapy and physiotherapists are more widely known outside of the United States. Physical therapy is occasionally referred to as kinesiotherapy by non-Americans.
Education and training of a physical therapist
Physical therapists in the United States must complete formal education and licensing requirements to practice. It usually comprises a bachelor's degree and a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT). In addition, physical therapists can pursue further education in the following areas:
- Anatomy
- Behavioral sciences
- Biology
- Biomechanics
- Cardiovascular studies
- Cellular histology
- Exercise physiology
- Kinesiology
- Musculoskeletal studies
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonary sciences
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic studies
In addition to the state requirements, all physical therapists in the U.S. must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to practice.
What does a physical therapist do?
The duties of a physical therapist include the following:
- Listening to your concerns
- Creating a personalized care plan based on their observations of your condition, desired outcomes, and goals
- Creating and executing strategies to discharge you from care when appropriate
- Utilizing treatment tools like electrical stimulation devices or kinesthetic tape
- Monitoring your health
- Assisting you in using supportive devices like a crutch or cane
What are the conditions treated by physical therapists?
Physical therapists provide personalized treatments for sports-related injuries, post-surgery rehabilitation, and orthopedic conditions. They also help alleviate pain and discomfort related to the musculoskeletal system.
People can receive treatments either as a primary or complementary treatment option for their illnesses or injuries that cause aches and pain. You can also go to a physical therapist near you if you suffer from loss of function, limited movement, or other physical impairment.
During your appointment, physical therapists will analyze your condition and take specific measurements to gather information about them. These particular measurements include the following:
- Pulmonary function
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Range of motion
- Balance
- Neurological function
- Joint mobility
- Cardiac function
- Pain
- Overall functional mobility
After a detailed analysis, they will prescribe one-to-one treatment sessions and develop individualized care plans depending on your needs and goals. They will also educate you on your condition to complete part of the treatment at home to get better sooner.
Hence, you can go to a physical therapist near you for the following conditions:
Rehabilitation after surgery:
Some surgeries include invasive procedures that can affect a person’s mobility and restrict their movements for a limited period. As a result, doctors recommend physical therapy to help regain mobility, strength, and balance. They can also prevent excessive scar tissue buildup, improve range of motion, normalize walking, and reduce pain. A few examples of such surgeries include rotator cuff repair, knee replacement, and hip replacement.
Treating acute injury:
People can get acute injuries by accident or trauma to any body part. They persist for a few weeks or more, depending on the level of damage. However, you can go to a physical therapist near you to shorten the recovery duration to regain as much range of motion as possible, manage swelling and pain, or learn to restrict movements to avoid flare-ups. Some examples include herniated discs in the back, tears in the meniscus, and ankle sprains.
Managing chronic injury:
Chronic injuries accumulate over time due to minor and repetitive injuries to the musculoskeletal systems. It can also occur due to old age and is prevalent in various orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scoliosis. They damage the body over time, and afflicted individuals require ongoing physical therapy to alleviate pain and symptoms. Some examples include tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and shin splints.
What advantages does physical therapy offer?
To accomplish your movement goals, your physical therapist will create a therapy plan that closely addresses your symptoms and problems. They can treat any bodily system that controls movement, including the:
- Musculoskeletal system
- Nervous system
- Cardiopulmonary system
- Integumentary system
Strengthening the systems mentioned above through physical therapy can benefit your muscles, bones, heart, lungs, brain, and nerves, and how they communicate with other body parts and skin, as well as how you handle and feel things.
Types of physical therapy
Now that you have learned how physical therapy can benefit your body, here are the different types of therapy you can choose from:
Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation: Individuals who have undergone specific surgical procedures and have cardiopulmonary conditions may benefit from cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. The treatment can improve stamina and muscular and cardiovascular endurance.
Decongestive therapy: Patients with lymphedema and other conditions that cause fluid accumulation can benefit from decongestive treatment.
Geriatric physical therapy: This therapy can help older adults who develop conditions like arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence that affect their mobility and physical function. It aims to improve physical fitness levels, reduce pain, and restore mobility.
Orthopedic physical therapy: It treats ailments related to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and fascia that affect the musculoskeletal system. It can address fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic illnesses, and post-orthopedic surgery rehabilitation.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation: This can help in the treatment of conditions that impact the pelvic floor, such as fecal or urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, and pelvic pain caused by injuries, operations, or other conditions.
Vestibular therapy: It helps in treating balance issues arising from inner ear conditions. Exercises and manual techniques in vestibular physical therapy can aid patients in regaining their balance and coordination.
Wound care therapy: Promoting improved circulation can help ensure that a healing wound receives enough oxygen and blood. This treatment includes manual therapies, compression therapy, e-stim, and wound care.
Finding the best physical therapist near you in Richardson, Texas
Physical therapists train in diagnosing and treating patients of all ages, including those nearing the end of their lives. However, finding the best physical therapist to meet your needs can be challenging. But don't worry—Zocdoc can help!
You can start by logging on to Zocdoc and entering the type of specialist (physical therapist), location (Richardson, Texas), consultation time, and insurance specifics in the search field. To make your search simpler and quicker, Zocdoc provides several filters. You can specify the physical therapist's gender, language skills, whether they work with children, your preferred consultation time, and the reason for your visit. If you want to consult online, look for physical therapists under the video visits tab.
Before choosing any specialist, reading their Zocdoc profiles and getting to know them is wise. Here, you can learn pertinent information about their education, experience, board certifications, professional affiliations, and names of their practices. You can also read patient testimonials for additional first-hand knowledge about the physical therapist. Once you've chosen an expert, you can book an in-person or online consultation on Zocdoc with just a few clicks.
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
Statistical overview of illnesses addressed by physical therapy in the U.S.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Texas had 16,280 physical therapists in 2022, accounting for 1.25 jobs per thousand jobs. The country, on the other hand, employed 229,740 physical therapists. These experts can address and alleviate the pain and discomfort brought on by the following issues:
Neck, back, and limb pain
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Interview Survey, 39.0% of adults in the country reported having back pain, 36.5% had lower limb pain, and 30.7% had upper limb pain in 2019.
Heart disease
According to the same source, heart disease is America’s leading cause of death. Cardiovascular-related death occurs every 33 seconds, and heart disease accounts for 1 in 5 fatalities in the country, claiming the lives of about 695,000 people in 2021.
Parkinson's disease
About a million Americans live with Parkinson's disease (PD), according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Nearly 90,000 individuals in the country are diagnosed with PD yearly, and over 10 million people worldwide suffer from the disease. Additionally, it affects men 1.5 times more frequently than women.
Sources
Medical News Today
Healthline[1]
Cleveland Clinic
WebMD
American Physical Therapy Association
Parkinson's Foundation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Stanford Medicine
Verywell Health
Healthline[2]
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