Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists evaluate and treat injuries and dysfunction by expanding the range of motion and enhancing mobility in specific body segments. They also assist people in developing better lifestyle choices and treat people of all ages.
If your mobility or range of motion issues are connected to the musculoskeletal (which includes bones and muscles) or neurological systems (the intricate nerve network in the body), a physical therapist near you can help. They can also aid with movement issues caused by chronic severe heart or lung illnesses (cardiopulmonary system) and skin illnesses (integumentary system).
What do physical therapists do?
A physical therapist can help you manage discomfort, stiffness, and pain, which may make it hard for you to move. They first diagnose your condition by observing you perform various functions, such as standing, walking, and other movement-specific tasks. They will ask about your symptoms and prepare a treatment plan to suit your needs.
Physical therapists offer treatment plans that may combine exercises and stretching. They may suggest using different therapeutic aids, such as kinesthetic tape or electrical stimulation, to help with mobility. Physical therapy (PT) can often reduce your need for medication and even surgery.
Physical therapists may offer other hands-on techniques as treatments, monitor your progress, and suggest changes or enhancements to your treatment if necessary. They may recommend using supportive devices such as crutches or canes to help you improve.
Once the treatment plan is developed, your condition will dictate how many physical therapy sessions are required. While some people need only a few sessions, others may work with a physical therapist for months—patients with chronic illnesses may require long-term treatment.
Education and training
A physical therapist should obtain a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from a physical therapist education program authorized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The program runs for three years, and the physical therapist must obtain a state license to practice.
During the DPT program, aspiring therapists learn biology, physiology, neuroscience, musculoskeletal, management sciences, and clinical reasoning. The curriculum may also include kinesiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, and biomechanics. The DPT course is a blend of classroom and lab study, with the former covering a significant chunk of the curriculum.
After graduation, physical therapists are eligible for a clinical residency program, which usually lasts about a year. Upon completing the residency, some therapists specialize further by pursuing a fellowship in an advanced clinical segment. While board certification is not mandatory, some physical therapists choose to take the exam. In addition to clearing the exam, they complete clinical work in specialties such as sports, geriatrics, or orthopedics.
In addition to meeting the required education and training, physical therapists must develop communication skills, compassion, physical stamina, agility, and time management skills to succeed in their chosen profession.
What are the various specialization areas in physical therapy?
Physical therapists can take up any of the multiple specializations. Here are a few areas they can focus on
- Geriatric clinical specialist: As the US population ages, geriatric specialization is gaining importance. Physical therapists specializing in geriatrics help older patients with musculoskeletal and neurological conditions associated with aging. To earn a geriatric specialization, applicants must have 2000 hours of direct patient-care experience in geriatrics within the past ten years or complete an APTA-accredited geriatrics residency.
- Pediatric clinical specialist: Pediatric specialists focus on treating physical conditions in young people. Requirements include 2000 hours of direct patient care in pediatrics within the past ten years or completing an APTA-accredited pediatrics residency.
- Orthopedic clinical specialist: Orthopedics is a famous PT specialty, with specialists treating bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint issues. The prerequisites include finishing an orthopedic residency recognized by the APTA or logging 2000 hours of direct patient care in orthopedics within the previous ten years.
- Cardiovascular & pulmonary clinical specialist: Established in 1981 by APTA, the cardiovascular and pulmonary specialization was the first board-certified PT specialization. These specialists aid patients in managing heart and lung conditions, assisting in recovery from heart-related issues and respiratory diseases like COPD. To become a specialist, applicants need ACLS certification, evidence of a recent clinical data analysis project, and a prerequisite amount of patient care in this field, either through 2000 working hours or an APTA-accredited residency.
- Neurology clinical specialist: These specialists treat patients with neurological disorders. Physical therapists aiming for neurology specialization need 2000 hours of direct patient care experience within the past ten years or completion of an APTA-accredited neurology residency.
- Oncology specialist: Focus on treating various cancer types and aiding patients in managing chronic pain and weakness. Certification requires 2000 hours of direct patient care experience in oncology within the past ten years or completion of an APTA-accredited oncology residency.
Who can benefit from physical therapy?
Physical therapy can help people who have a disability, have undergone surgery, or have suffered a sports injury. It has multi-pronged benefits; even people with everyday conditions can benefit immensely. Physical therapy sessions are suitable for bodily health and patients' mental health.
If you are suffering from vertigo, a condition where you get a sensation of dizziness or spinning, physical therapists can be of help. They use methods such as Epley Maneuver to help rectify the issue. Neurological conditions and Parkinson's Disease can lead to problems with balance, and physical therapy can help restore it to improve your quality of life. Back pain is widespread, especially as you age, and a physical therapist can aid in pain relief. They use stretching exercises, massage, and posture adjustments to achieve desired results.
In conditions like arthritis, the joints swell, causing extreme discomfort and impacting mobility. Physical therapy can help stabilize and support the joints. Plantar fasciitis occurs when your heel's ligament tears or becomes inflamed. Physical therapy can strengthen it, help it become flexible, and reduce pain. Physical therapy can also help treat headaches, jaw pain, urinary incontinence, and constipation, among other conditions.
Physical therapist vs. chiropractor
A chiropractor is trained to treat everything related to the neuromusculoskeletal system, including pain relief. They can also diagnose and treat problems in the joints and spine.
Chiropractors use diagnostic tools and techniques, including physical examinations, to evaluate their patients' overall health. Some diagnostic tools chiropractors use are ultrasounds, X-rays, laser technology, and electrical muscle stimulation. They aim to help patients improve their health and reduce pain without surgery or medications. Chiropractors receive advanced training and often go on to set up independent practices. Chiropractic care usually does not require a medical referral.
Meanwhile, a physical therapist focuses on enabling proper joint functions. Their role is to guide patients toward recovery through targeted exercises. Physical therapists do not conduct diagnoses; patients come to them with a diagnosed condition or after a surgical procedure. Physical therapy services usually require a referral from a doctor and insurance approval. Most physical therapists work with healthcare organizations such as hospitals, clinics, and assisted living centers.
Are physical therapy and occupational therapy different?
While physical and occupational therapy will help you move your body better or more safely, they have different goals. Physical therapy generally focuses on treating a specific body area, such as the lower back, hand, or leg. For example, PT can help reduce symptoms such as pain or stiffness or when you need to recover from surgery or injury to a limb.
On the other hand, occupational therapy helps you improve your ability to do all kinds of daily tasks. It aims to make you more self-sufficient. For example, occupational therapists can help you get dressed, shop for groceries, use household electrical appliances, or even use a computer.
The role of geriatric physical therapy
Geriatric physical therapy is a specialized approach focused on older adults' unique needs and challenges. As individuals age, they often experience decreased muscle strength, reduced coordination, slower reaction times, and a lower tolerance for physical activity. This therapy, usually supported by physical therapists, is tailored to help older adults maintain mobility, strength, and overall physical health through targeted exercises and activity recommendations.
Geriatric physical therapy includes a range of exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance. These exercises aid daily activities, enhance movement, and prevent deconditioning. Physical therapists incorporate the following exercises:
- Lower body stretches: Physical therapists focus on stretches for the lower back, hamstrings, and hip flexors to encourage proper joint alignment and mobility. These stretches prevent tightness and stiffness that can hinder muscle activation.
- Lower body strengthening exercises: Strengthening exercises that target the glutes and quads, such as sit-to-stands, squats, step-ups, leg lifts, and bridges, help older adults maintain essential muscle strength.
- Endurance training: Therapists employ endurance exercises to maintain heart and lung health and improve circulation, often using cardiovascular equipment like stationary bikes and treadmills.
- Balance exercises: Balance exercises help older adults sustain stability during standing, walking, and directional changes. Therapists use static balance exercises on flat and uneven surfaces, weight-shifting, marching, and tandem walking heel to toe.
Geriatric physical therapy frequently includes body-weight exercises that improve mobility without excessive strain. Light weights or resistance bands may be added to provide extra resistance safely.
Tips to derive optimal results from physical therapy
Take any relevant X-rays and scan reports when you go for your appointment. Tell your physical therapist about your medications and any symptoms you have experienced. Tell them if any specific movements cause pain. All this information will help your therapist tailor a treatment plan for you. Let your therapist know your expectations from the treatment and any goals you have in mind regarding your recovery.
When your physical therapist advises exercises to do at home to supplement the in-person sessions, be sure to do them diligently. The exercises will aid in faster recovery and keep your treatment plan on track. You could maintain a log of your home exercises, which will help your therapist track your progress. Check if you need hot or cold compresses to relax sore muscles.
Choose an experienced physical therapist near you in San Francisco
Living with pain and mobility issues can hurt your mental health and overall well-being. If you have had surgery or are recuperating from a lengthy illness, you may find it difficult to resume your routine due to movement limitations. Seeing a physical therapist can solve these issues and help you return to everyday life. Choosing the correct physical therapist may be difficult, especially when dealing with health issues.
We offer you the convenience of choosing an experienced physical therapist from the comfort of your home. On the Zocdoc platform, you can access our extensive nationwide medical practitioner and therapist database. With location, symptoms, condition, insurance plan, gender, and experience filters, you can narrow your search to meet all your requirements.
When scheduling an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll be prompted to share your insurance information or confirm that you'll pay out-of-pocket. Some providers require insurance details to book appointments, but if you prefer not to share or use insurance, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc who accepts self-pay patients. You can visit Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related questions.
Discover more about their educational qualifications, experience, training, awards, expertise, board certifications, languages, etc. You can also check for verified reviews by past patients to understand people's experiences. You can use the drop-down menu and add a filter to find an in-network doctor who accepts your insurance.
Our database also lists therapists who offer appointments after regular business hours and on weekends. After you have found a therapist matching all your requirements, you can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at a convenient time.
Booking appointments with physical therapists near you on Zocdoc is free, secure, and quick.
Statistics on physical therapists and the burden of disability in San Francisco
Per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for May 2021 show that around 3,050 physical therapists work in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward region. For the same period, the Bureau statistics indicate the presence of 225,350 physical therapists employed across the country. Most of these therapists are found in the offices of other health practitioners, while general medical and surgical hospitals are the second largest employers.
The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 Participatory Action Research Consortium (ADA-PARC) website says that the percentage of the total population with disabilities stands at 10.6 in San Francisco. The same source also has data from 2016 indicating that 2.7% of people in San Francisco had a self-care disability. For the same period, 4.7% of people in San Francisco had an independent living disability, while 5.7% had an ambulatory disability.
The same report shows that 10.6% of individuals aged 18 to 64 had disabilities in 2016. Whereas for individuals aged 65 and above, the disability number was higher (37.3%).
Sources
American Physical Therapy Association
Rasmussen University
Northeast College of Health Sciences
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
US Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
Cleveland Clinic
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Verywell Health
