Who are physical therapists?
Physical therapy is a special branch of medicine that comes under rehabilitative care. Physical therapists are educated and trained healthcare professionals who prevent, detect, diagnose, and manage injuries and disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system.
Physical therapists manage common injuries and issues that are almost unavoidable for anyone. These include neck pain, headache, arthritis, spinal problems (herniated discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, degenerative disc disease), concussions, and sports injuries.
What are the benefits of physical therapy?
Physical therapy aims to improve or bring back strength, mobility, range of motion, movement, and function in the injured portions. With the help of therapeutic exercises, hot and cold therapy, massage, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation, physical therapy helps reduce acute and chronic pain and brings down the need for opioids. It helps in fastening the recovery time in post-surgery patients.
Sports persons often use physical therapy after an injury as these sessions help them fight the pain and recover. For those suffering from arthritis, physical therapy aids in lowering the severity of symptoms like pain, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness in the joints. Patients diagnosed with neurological conditions find physical therapy helps improve their gait and balance. Physical therapy even helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, thus guiding patients facing pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence to regain strength and support.
Are there sub-specialties within physical therapy?
Depending on which field of medicine they train and treat patients in, physical therapists can be specialists in the following areas:
- Orthopedic physical therapy: The physical therapists specializing in orthopedics only focus on disorders stemming from the musculoskeletal system. They help manage common injuries, including sprains, fractures, bursitis, and tendonitis. They help people to rehabilitate after sports injuries and orthopedic surgeries. Physical therapists also help arthritis patients to manage their pain and improve their mobility and range of motion. They also guide patients post-amputation of limbs to regain mobility and independence.
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation physical therapy: Cardiac rehabilitation programs greatly benefit from the inclusion of physical therapy, especially for patients recovering from heart attacks or cardiac/pulmonary surgeries. Specialized therapists in cardiovascular and pulmonary care play a crucial role in enhancing patients' mobility and endurance levels.
- Neurological physical therapy: Physical therapists who study neurology work with patients with neurological disorders like stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. They also guide patients with brain and spinal cord injuries to regain their balance and limb function.
- Pediatric physical therapy: Common disorders that pediatric physical therapists help manage include spina bifida, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and torticollis. Children with these diseases struggle with strength, balance, coordination, and cognitive and sensory reactions. Physical therapists assist these kids in improving their gross and fine motor skills.
- Geriatric physical therapy: In the aging population, physical therapists improve fitness and reduce pain and discomfort. They work with patients with Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, balance disorders, cancer, incontinence, and osteoporosis. They also assist hip and joint replacement patients in regaining mobility and balance.
What happens at a physical therapy appointment?
Physical therapists begin their consultations by asking detailed questions regarding your medical, medication, family, and surgical history. This step is crucial before any diagnosis occurs. At first, they will direct questions regarding the nature, frequency, intensity, and duration of your symptoms. Then, you will be asked how these symptoms affect your daily life so that they can provide treatment accordingly. They would want to know anything you already do to improve the symptoms and certain situations that aggravate them.
Then, physical therapists conduct a physical examination where they palpate and test the injured portion's strength, mobility, range of motion, and balance. They may also conduct neurological tests and prescribe blood work for a more accurate diagnosis. If needed, they make timely referrals to other medical specialists, after which they begin the therapy sessions.
How do you prepare for your first physical therapy session?
Before you book an appointment with a physical therapist near you, you should know what to expect and how to prepare for it. It would help if you were ready for the initial session by gathering information about the history of the problem, including details about its onset, impact on daily activities, frequency of symptoms, and factors that worsen or improve the condition. It is advisable to bring a list of medications and inform the therapist about any chronic health conditions, surgeries, and procedures. The more detailed, the better!
A significant pre-therapy anxiety occurs when you are trying to decide what to wear to the session. Wearing comfortable and movable clothing tailored to specific areas of pain or injury is always recommended. Suppose you are receiving physical therapy for a shoulder injury. In that case, you might wear a sleeveless shirt or a shirt with large armholes to allow the physical therapist easy access to the shoulder without removing the entire shirt. The therapist will now be able to assess the shoulder's range of motion and perform massages effectively. Similarly, if you are undergoing therapy for knee or leg-related issues, you could opt for shorts or loose slacks that you can roll up, allowing the therapist to assess and treat the knee without hindrance.
During the PT examination, various measurements and tests are conducted, including palpation, range of motion measurements, strength tests, mobility assessments, balance evaluations, and neurological screenings. Following the examination, the therapist may discuss a treatment plan involving procedures such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation, along with prescribed exercises that you can do at home.
Regular PT sessions and realistic goal-setting are critical to a healthy recovery. Discuss the expected course of your treatment with your therapist thoroughly.
And lastly, make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. A diversified approach involving healthcare providers, PTs, and other specialists for comprehensive care will ensure a smooth recovery.
Locating the best physical therapists near you in Springfield, Virginia
When facing chronic disorders, dealing with pain is one of the toughest challenges, and physical therapy goes a long way in helping reduce the pain and improve function. Finding a physical therapist who is the perfect fit can be challenging, but with Zocdoc, this can be simple. Zocdoc's robust algorithm helps you filter physical therapists based on several variables. These include symptoms (backache, neck pain, or post-surgical pain relief) and the type of physical therapist (orthopedic, neurological, geriatric, pediatric or cardiovascular, and pulmonary rehabilitation physical therapist). You can also find healthcare providers based on a specific location (home or office), zip code, and the date and time you would like to make an appointment. Zocdoc makes your search for the best physical therapist near you quick and easy!
With Zocdoc, you can make in-person and online appointments days before, 24 hours prior, and even on the same day based on the availability of the physical therapist. To help you keep things objective, Zocdoc includes a detailed profile for every physical therapist listed on the website. The profile provides information regarding the therapists' training, experience, particulars of their practice, languages, special certifications, awards received, and even their gender and cultural background. The healthcare professionals' profile also includes verified patient ratings and reviews. If you have further doubts, you can call the clinic ahead of the appointment and ask questions.
Zocdoc also allows you to sort through your medical insurance queries. Select your current medical insurance policy and plan from the drop-down menu on the Zocdoc main page. It will immediately show you the list of in-network physical therapists who would accept your insurance for payments.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Statistics related to physical therapy in Springfield, Virginia
According to a report published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6,540 physical therapists were legally practicing in Virginia as of May 2021. The location quotient, indicating the concentration of physical therapists employed in the state in comparison to the entire United States, stood at 1.09, surpassing the national average.
America's Health Rankings published the arthritis statistics for Virginia in 2022. According to this report, the White (30.1%), Black (30.6%), and American Indian (29.6%) populations had the highest prevalence of arthritis in the state. 53.1% of people over 65 were diagnosed with arthritis during the year. The chronic disease was higher in women (31.5%) than in men (22.4%).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the statistics for stroke and Parkinson's disease. According to the reports published for Virginia, in 2020, 4,091 people died from a stroke. The death rate calculated for every 100,000 people was 39.9. Another report stated that in 2021, the death rate for Parkinson's disease (10.5) was lower than for stroke.
Sources
Very Well Health[1]
Very Well Health[2]
Healthline Media
International Spine Pain and Performance Center
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America's Health Rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
