Who are physical therapists?
Physical therapists, also known as physiotherapists, work in hospitals, schools, clinics, long-term care facilities, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, industrial health centers, and athletic facilities. They train in evaluating and treating injuries and dysfunction by increasing the range of motion and improving movement in certain body parts. They also help people devise healthier lifestyles. They have expertise in treating people of all age groups.
Doctors of other specialties, such as specialists in the musculoskeletal system (Bones and muscles), cardiopulmonary system (which consists of the heart and lungs), neurological system (which includes the brain), and integumentary system (which consists of the skin) usually make referrals to physical therapists to supplement and augment their treatment regimens.
What kind of conditions require physical therapy?
Physical therapy may be recommended for several conditions or post-surgical recovery. A physical therapist understands the body's biomechanics and can identify the root cause of your injuries or diagnose a disease that may be causing pain and restriction in mobility. Depending on your condition, your treatment may last weeks or even months. Here are some common illnesses managed by physical therapy:
- Muscular dystrophy: It is a group of hereditary conditions that occurs when abnormal genes interfere with the production of proteins necessary for forming healthy muscles. Muscular dystrophy is an incurable disease that causes loss of muscle mass and weakness. Along with several medicinal and surgical interventions, doctors also recommend physical therapy to manage muscular dystrophy. Certain range-of-motion and low-impact exercises can help the joints maintain flexibility and strength.
- Parkinson's disease (PD): A degenerative disorder, Parkinson's disease affects the nervous system and results in tremors and decreased movement. Parkinson's symptoms include slurred speech, difficulty walking, and muscle stiffness. The condition progresses over time and is likely to get worse. Exercise programs involving gait training, balance exercises, and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) therapy to amplify the voice may be recommended by a neurologist or physician and performed by a physical therapist.
- Stroke: A stroke may occur when blood flow to the brain is restricted and can be as severe as experiencing a heart attack. Strokes can lead to many health issues depending on which area of the brain has suffered damage. Individuals may experience fatigue, become paralyzed, have weakness on one side of the body, have difficulty speaking words, have swallowing problems, and pain or numbness after a stroke. Some may also have trouble with thinking, awareness, attention, judgment, and memory. Physical therapy helps patients relearn essential motor functions such as walking, lying down, standing, and sitting.
- Arthritis: A condition characterized by inflammation or pain and swelling in the joints, arthritis often worsens with age. Physical therapy can improve the movement and use of the joints affected by arthritis. It also increases strength and allows an arthritis patient to perform daily activities without excessive physical exertion. Moreover, physical therapists can also recommend assistive devices such as walkers, ergonomic chairs, and desks to improve posture.
Qualifications and training of physical therapists
The mandatory degree that every physical therapist practicing in the United States must have is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. It is a three-year graduate degree, and only students with a prior undergraduate degree or high school graduates willing to fulfill the undergraduate requirements are eligible to apply for the professional DPT program. All physical therapists must complete their program at a school approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Following the DPT degree, they must pass a state licensing exam to practice in that particular state.
Following graduation, all physical therapists have the option of furthering their knowledge by pursuing a clinical residency program or a clinical fellowship program. A physiotherapy residency program focuses on developing skills to evaluate, examine, diagnose, intervene, and manage patients in a particular specialty. Upon completion of residency, a physical therapist becomes eligible to appear for the board certification examination. The governing body is the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, which offers and oversees the certifications for physical therapists in the US.
After completing the residency program, physical therapists become eligible to apply for fellowship programs. The primary focus of fellowship programs is on the subspecialty areas of physical therapy, such as cardiovascular (heart), pulmonary (lungs), orthopedics (bones, joints, and spinal cord tissues), geriatrics (diseases of the elderly), sports (includes all sports-related injuries), neurology (brain injuries), pediatrics (issues affecting the kids), clinical electrophysiology, and oncology (study of cancer).
What is the difference between an occupational therapist and a physical therapist?
Physical and occupational therapy are both types of rehabilitative care. While there is considerable overlap between them in terms of the conditions they treat and the methods they use for treating, some key differences make them two different specialties.
Physical therapists focus on improving the body's mobility, movement, and function by using stretches, exercises, and other physical activities. On the other hand, occupational therapists focus mainly on improving fine and gross motor skills, which are essential for performing day-to-day activities.
A straightforward way to understand this difference is, for instance, if you have undergone a knee replacement surgery recently, you will be referred to a physical therapist to help you increase the range of motion and strengthen the knee joint so you can move around quickly. On the other hand, if you have had a stroke recently and are finding it difficult to get back to your daily activities, you will be referred to an occupational therapist. They will help you relearn tasks such as dressing, cooking, eating, and taking a shower.
What are the types of physical therapy?
- Orthopedic physical therapists focus on recovery and rehabilitation following sprains, fractures, bursitis, tendinitis, and major orthopedic surgeries.
- Geriatric physical therapists help in providing care to older adults with painful conditions affecting function and mobility, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, hip and joint replacements, incontinence, and balance disorders.
- Neurological physical therapists help improve movement, strength, balance, and responsiveness in patients with neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, brain and spinal cord injury, and stroke.
- Cardiopulmonary physical therapists take care of the rehabilitation following major cardiac insult episodes such as heart attack, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, coronary angioplasty, or heart failure.
- Pediatric physical therapists deal with conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents, such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, torticollis, and spina bifida.
Why do you need physical therapy, and what kinds of treatment does a physical therapist provide?
Physical therapy helps relieve pain and improve movement and mobility in the body following an injury or illness. You can visit a physical therapist near you, or you may be referred to one by your medical specialist for needs like rehabilitation following cardiovascular diseases and stroke, recovery following traumatic injury, sports injury, or after giving birth. They also manage chronic illnesses like diabetes and arthritis and oversee rehabilitation after surgeries such as herniated discs, rotator cuff repair, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (knee replacement), or limb amputation.
Some standard treatment methods that physical therapists use include guided stretches and exercises, massage therapy, heat or cold therapy, therapy using kinesthetic tape and electrical stimulation machines, and ultrasounds.
Physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation, also known as cardiac rehab, is a customized program for all patients recovering from cardiovascular diseases and surgeries. The program includes exercises and education for making lifestyle changes to improve health and the quality of life.
Cardiac rehabilitation involves a team of healthcare professionals, including cardiologists, physical therapists, nutrition specialists, mental health specialists, exercise specialists, and occupational therapists. Physical therapists help devise exercise regimens to regain strength and prevent future disabilities. They usually suggest low-impact activities such as cycling, walking, jogging, yoga, or rowing in patients recovering from major cardiac events. They also help with muscle-strengthening exercises such as resistance training and weight lifting thrice a week to help rebuild muscle strength and function.
Locate the best physical therapist near you in Riverhead, New York
Physical therapists may come under the team providing rehabilitative care, but they play the most crucial role in helping you become healthier and preventing future problems. The meticulously designed Zocdoc website lets you sort through all the physical therapists in your area and decide on the one that is best suited to your needs.
You don't need credentials to access the information on Zocdoc. On the website, type in your requirements in the search boxes. You can filter your searches based on your condition, the procedure required, or the specialist you need. Zocdoc also helps you find a specialist based on your preferred date and location. You can even choose a physical therapist near you depending on the insurance accepted. Popular insurance carriers are listed on the website for your convenience.
Once you enter your details, Zocdoc will direct you to a page listing all the practitioners customized to your requirements. All the practitioners listed on Zocdoc have their profile summaries. All information you would need about them is provided, including their qualifications, place of work, hours of practice, certifications, awards, and even verified patient narratives to help you make a confident choice.
All bookings with Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Statistics on physiotherapy and cardiac rehabilitation in Riverhead, New York
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2021, there were a total of 225,350 registered physical therapists practicing in the country, out of which 16,130 were in the state of New York, making it one of the five states with the highest employment of physical therapists in the United States.
Heart disease mortality report by state published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that in 2020, 48,546 people died in New York due to heart diseases, keeping the death rate at 183.9. Patients usually have difficulty transitioning to an active lifestyle after major cardiac events. Regaining the stamina lost also requires constant training and rehabilitation. Physical therapists make this rehabilitation easier and ensure a healthier lifestyle.
Sources
WebMD[1]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine[1]
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Mayo Clinic[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
New York State Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Johns Hopkins Medicine[2]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic[3]
Mayo Clinic[4]
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Arthritis Foundation
National Institute on Aging
