Who are physical therapists?
Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who help you improve your range of motion and mobility. They can help manage pain caused by illnesses or injuries to the skin, heart, lungs, brain, bones, and muscles and also help you recover after surgery or an accident. They can help prevent future injuries and advise on how to lead a healthier life.
Physical therapists cater to people of all ages, from infants to seniors, while working in clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, sports, or fitness centers. They offer treatment plans comprising exercises, stretching, hands-on techniques, and equipment. Your primary care doctor or other specialists may refer you to a physical therapist if they feel you can benefit from such treatment.
Education and training of physical therapists
Aspiring physical therapists must complete their graduation and enroll in a doctoral physical therapy program recognized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. They must complete a 3-year doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT).
During the program, students learn about human anatomy, biology, physiology, cellular histology, and exercise physiology. Around 80% of the program involves learning and training in classrooms and laboratories, while 20% focuses on clinical education. Students typically gain about 27 weeks of clinical experience throughout the program.
Some programs also have the option of a 3+3 format where students take undergraduate courses on physical therapy for three years and then gain admission to a three-year professional DPT program. Other DPT programs allow high school students to gain direct entry into the course upon completing specific undergraduate requirements.
All physical therapists must clear a state-level licensure examination before beginning practice. After earning their license, some prefer to train further in a specific area of physical therapy and must pursue a clinical residency or fellowship program. Areas of specialization for physical therapists include:
- Geriatrics
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary
- Sports medicine
- Neurology
- Clinical electrophysiology
- Orthopedics
- Oncology
Physical therapists can also become board-certified by applying to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
What illnesses and conditions do physical therapists treat?
Physical therapists can treat various conditions, including lymphedema, back pain, trigger finger and thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, and urinary incontinence. Patients often see them after an injury or trauma, such as a spinal cord injury, concussion, rotator cuff tears, or temporomandibular joint disorders.
Further, physical therapists can also treat chronic conditions that hamper movement. It can be due to cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or muscular dystrophy.
Physical therapists can help manage back and neck pain, cancer-related complications, diabetes, fibromyalgia, fall risk, and balance issues. They can also treat patients with conditions such as muscle strains, obesity, osteoporosis, pelvic pain, spinal cord injuries, and congenital disabilities.
Six things to consider before your first visit to a physical therapist near you
Your first physical therapy appointment may typically last 45 minutes to an hour. You can follow the below-mentioned preparation tips to make your first session successful:
- Gather important documents: Arrive early for your initial clinic visit to complete the necessary paperwork; bring proof of identity and insurance details. Also, carry relevant medical records, doctor's notes, and diagnostic reports to help the physical therapist understand your condition.
- Prepare your health history: Your physical therapist will ask you about your existing health conditions, medications you take, surgeries you have had, and family history of illnesses. So, make sure you have all the details with you in hand.
- Know your symptoms: While preparing, make notes about your symptoms to remember all crucial information when talking to your provider. You must know when your symptoms began, how often they occur, whether anything makes them better or worse, and how they impact your daily activities.
- Set physical therapy goals: Do you want pain relief? Do you wish to regain independence and be able to do all the activities you were able to do before your injury? Do you aim to improve your health and prevent age-related physical problems? In short, write down what you wish to achieve through the rehabilitation process and communicate it to your physical therapist.
- Record your questions: Your physical therapist will be happy to clear all your doubts and answer any queries regarding your condition, treatment plan, and prevention tips. So, prepare a list of everything you wish to address during the appointment.
- Dress comfortably: During the first consultation, your provider will conduct a physical examination where they will ask you to move in a specific manner and perform certain tasks. They may even perform a visual check of the pain areas. For this reason, wear loose-fitting clothes that will not restrict your movement and provide easy access to the affected area.
How to find a reliable physical therapist near you in Sunnyvale, CA?
Finding a qualified and reliable physical therapist near you might be difficult. However, thanks to Zocdoc, you can avoid inconveniencing yourself by traveling to a hospital or healthcare facility to seek an appointment and find top-rated physical therapists in Sunnyvale, California, from the comfort of your home.
Log onto the Zocdoc platform and enter your condition, symptoms, location, and preferred appointment date to receive a list of top-rated physical therapists matching your criteria. You can filter these results based on their gender, language proficiency, hospital affiliation, available time slots, and whether they treat children.
Zocdoc maintains detailed profiles of each healthcare professional where you can find information regarding their education and training, areas of specialization, honors, accreditations, and licensure. You may also access user-verified reviews and ratings by previous patients treated by the provider to help you make an informed decision. You can also choose a provider who accepts your insurance by including your plan details in the search and filtering out only in-network providers.
Once you have picked the best physical therapist near you for your needs and requirements, Zocdoc will help you instantly book an online or in-person meeting based on availability. Just look for a purple video icon on the profiles of the providers who allow such video consultations.
All bookings with Zocdoc are easy, free, and secure.
Statistics on physical therapists in California and the conditions they treat
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 23,840 physical therapists were practicing in California as of May 2021. It predicts that the demand for physical therapists should grow by 17% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average demand for other occupations. Over the decade, it could create an estimated 15,400 openings for physical therapists annually.
Physical therapists can help manage pain and mobility issues in patients who have diabetes, arthritis, and those who are obese. According to America's Health Rankings, about 20.1% of adults in California were diagnosed with some form of arthritis in 2021. The condition's incidence increased with age, with 46.8% of those over 65 having arthritis compared to only 24.4% aged 45 to 64 and 6.2% aged 18 to 44. Women in the state had a higher prevalence of arthritis at 23.8% than men at 16.3%.
Further, in 2021, about 11.6% of adults in the state (higher than the national average of 10.9%) had diabetes, excluding prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Women (11.7%) were more likely to have diabetes than men (11.5%). The condition's incidence also increased with age, with 23.5% of those over 65 having diabetes, while only 16% aged 45 to 64 and 3.8% aged 18 to 44 had it.
Where obesity is concerned, about 27.6% of adults in California were obese; this meant their BMI (body mass index) was 30 or more based on their height and weight. Women (28.7%) had a higher obesity rate than men (26.5%). Those in the age group of 45 to 64 had the highest incidence of obesity at 30.6%. The percentage was lower in those aged 18 to 44 (27.1%) and those over 65 (23.9%).
Sources
WebMD
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
ExploreHealthCareers.org
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
America’s Health Rankings[1]
America’s Health Rankings[2]
America’s Health Rankings[3]
In Touch NYC Physical Therapy
Verywell Health
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