Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapy is focused on assessing, treating, and preventing movement disorders. PTs, or physical therapists, play a vital role in rehabilitation teams by evaluating and treating people experiencing health issues or disabilities due to pain, injury, loss of a body part, overuse of muscles or tendons, or disease. The primary motive of physical therapy is to help patients regain their mobility and functionality while preventing any additional impairments.
Physical therapists are involved in a wide range of treatment and education activities, such as
- Mobility and movement training
- Balance and gait retraining
- Heat and cold therapy
- Massage
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Burn care
- Casting and splinting
- Use of assistive devices like wheelchairs
- Walkers
- Canes and crutches
- Muscle retraining
- Pain management
- Cardiovascular strengthening
- Use of orthotics and prosthetics
- Exercise programs
Physical therapists work in multiple settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, community and home health settings, schools, industrial health centers, sports facilities, and private practices.
What are the educational qualifications of a physical therapist?
To become a physical therapist in the U.S., one must obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited school and pass a state licensing exam. DPT programs cover a wide range of subjects related to human biology and physiology and typically take three years to complete. Some programs may require a bachelor's degree, while others offer guaranteed admission for high school graduates who fulfill undergraduate requirements. Clinical education is integral to the curriculum, and licensed physical therapists can pursue additional training through residency or fellowship programs. Certification in a specialty area is optional.
What are the everyday tasks of a physical therapist?
Physical therapists perform a range of tasks daily. These include:
- Evaluating your ability to move by observing you stand, move, and complete tasks
- Listening to your concerns
- Developing a personalized treatment plan suited for your condition and desired outcomes
- Utilizing therapeutic tools such as kinesiology tape or electrical stimulation equipment
- Tracking and documenting your progress
- Assisting you with the use of assistive devices such as a cane or crutch
- Creating and implementing a plan to end treatment when it is deemed appropriate.
What are the benefits of physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a branch of healthcare aimed to enhance mobility, alleviate pain, and improve an individual’s quality of life. It helps to reduce their dependence on pain relievers and help manage chronic conditions. Some of the notable benefits include the following:
- Rehabilitation from injuries:
Physical therapy helps rehabilitate injuries sustained during sports or other physical activities. It can help reduce the chances of surgery and prevent further damage to the injured area.
Physical therapists provide targeted interventions to alleviate pain and ensure you can regain function as soon as possible. They use various techniques, including massage therapy, aquatic therapy, and cold and heat therapy.
Surgeries take a considerable toll on the body due to their invasive nature. Hence, most doctors recommend seeing a physical therapist near you to speed up your recovery. Depending on the injury or surgery, they will provide appropriate treatments.
Their therapy aims to improve mobility range of motion, prevent scar tissue buildup, reduce pain, and regain normal function. It can help you return to your daily activities faster than it would take without physical therapy.
Various reports have explored the link between physical therapy and the decrease of pain relievers in patients suffering from chronic pain. Physical therapy is beneficial to treat most kinds of acute and chronic conditions, including back and neck pain and muscle strains.
Physical therapists employ massage, stretching, therapeutic exercises, and electrical stimulation techniques. It helped to regain strength and restore normal function in the affected areas.
- Provide help for neurological conditions:
Recent studies have shown that physical therapy techniques can provide support for symptoms caused by neurological disorders. Hence, you can regain some form of mobility for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and issues related to spinal cord injuries.
Physical therapists can help improve balance, coordination, flexibility, and respiratory functions. As a result, most hospitals have specific programs to provide rehabilitation via physical therapy to affected patients.
How can you make a physical therapy session successful?
Physical therapy can effectively treat short-term and long-term medical conditions but requires cooperation and communication between the patient and therapist to achieve the best outcomes. Here are five tips to make the most of your physical therapy sessions:
You must actively engage in your treatment by choosing a physical therapist near you to meet your needs. Bring relevant medical records to your appointments, and draft a list of questions or goals for treatment.
Your physical therapist is there to help you, and it's their responsibility to address any concerns you may have about your treatment plan, including the duration of treatment, frequency of appointments, and what to expect during and after treatment.
Your physical therapist may assign exercises to be done at home between appointments. Completing these exercises will aid consistency and repetition and enable your physical therapist to monitor your progress.
- Communicate during sessions
Being forthcoming with your physical therapy team during and between sessions is essential. If you experience discomfort or pain during an exercise or if something is not working, let them know so they can adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
- Follow your therapist's guidance
It's crucial to follow your physical therapist's advice and directives. This is in your best interest if they advise you to avoid certain activities. Waiting until you receive clearance before resuming exercise or sports is also important, as your therapist has the expertise to determine the appropriate time for you to do so.
Finding the best physical therapist near you in Silver Spring, Maryland
Zocdoc is a helpful tool for finding a physical therapist in Silver Spring, Maryland, that suits your needs. You can easily search for doctors based on their specialty or the medical condition you need treatment for. Booking an appointment is straightforward: select a time, enter your zip code, and choose your insurance carrier plan. You can filter your search by gender, hospital affiliations, languages spoken, and whether or not a practitioner treats children.
Once you receive a list of practitioners, Zocdoc allows you to choose between an online consultation or an in-person visit based on your preference. You can also read the detailed profiles of each doctor, including their education, years of experience, expertise, and certifications. Additionally, recent patient reviews are available to help you decide when choosing a physical therapist near you. Zocdoc is user-friendly and secure, and best of all, it is entirely free for everyone.
Physical therapy-related statistics in Maryland
According to the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy, as of 2021, there were approximately 9,147 active physical therapy licenses. As per the data from IBIS world, about 575,909 physical therapists are employed in the U.S. as of February 2023. The number of people employed in the physical therapists' industry in the U.S. increased by 4% on average over the five years between 2018 and 2023.
In 2021, 25% of people in Maryland were informed about having arthritis. The highest numbers were reported in the 65+ age group (50.8%), followed by those in the 45-64 age group (30.8%). In addition, men reported more cases (33.3%) than women (24.7%).
Sources
WebMD
Healthline
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Maryland Board of Physical Therapy
IBIS World
America's Health Rankings
