What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy, commonly called physiotherapy, involves specific exercises, massages, and treatments that rely on physical stimuli. Examples include heat, cold, electrical currents, or ultrasound. Physical therapy's goals include pain relief, better movement, and muscular strengthening for weak muscles.
Moreover, physical therapy is not only confined to traditional treatment therapies. It also works on the crucial objective of educating patients on how they can enhance their health. Also, unlike other treatments, physical therapy is not only limited to private clinics or hospitals. People who are bedridden or unable to leave their houses due to their condition can also carry it out at home.
Physical therapy employs various methods to treat acute and chronic symptoms. It also helps prevent future issues and helps patients recover from long-term illnesses, surgeries, or injuries.
Who is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists are qualified healthcare professionals who pursue specialized graduate education in physical therapy. They may also be known as physiotherapists. Physical therapists evaluate your health and formulate a treatment plan that guides your therapy.
Physical therapists mostly use hands-on treatment techniques for usual symptoms. Additionally, they provide instructions on specific workouts for improving patients' ability to move and perform.
Education and training
In the United States, physical therapists seeking licensure must complete a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and pass a state licensing exam. These DPT programs typically span three years and cover many subjects, including biology, anatomy, physiology, and more.
While some DPT programs mandate a prior bachelor's degree, others offer a 3 + 3 format, allowing students to spend three years in undergraduate courses focused on physical therapy before advancing to a three-year professional DPT program. Alternatively, some programs admit high school graduates directly, provided they complete undergraduate prerequisites.
Most DPT programs emphasize classroom instruction and lab work, comprising about 80% of the curriculum, with the remaining 20% dedicated to clinical education. As part of their final clinical experience, physical therapy students typically spend 27 weeks in a clinical setting.
Licensed physical therapists can enhance their expertise through clinical residency or fellowship programs. Residences offer a chance to gain experience in specific practice areas, while clinical fellowships are structured programs for physical therapists displaying clinical proficiency in focused areas of practice.
Physical therapists can achieve clinical specialist board certification from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties without being obligated to fulfill any particular practice area prerequisites.
What is the distinction between physical therapy, physiotherapy, and kinesiotherapy?
Physical therapy, physiotherapy, and kinesiotherapy all denote the same type of treatment. Regardless of the terminology, your physical therapist will help you enhance mobility and self-confidence. In the United States, healthcare providers and patients commonly use "physical therapy" to describe the treatment and "physical therapists" to denote the professionals administering it. Outside the United States, you often hear "physiotherapy" and "physiotherapists" being used. People from countries other than the United States sometimes refer to physical therapy as kinesiotherapy.
Common conditions that physical therapists treat
Physical therapists near you can address and treat conditions such as:
- Back pain
- Problems related to wear and tear or injuries of the muscles, tendons, or joints
- Osteoarthritis
- Pelvic floor conditions such as incontinence (urine leakage) or pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Respiratory diseases (affecting the airways)
- Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, stroke, or multiple sclerosis
- Developmental issues in children, for example, affecting their muscles or bones
Physical therapy can also benefit people who require assistance or nursing care. It can help them build muscle strength and prevent falls by practicing specific movements in a particular order. Secondly, it supports future problem prevention or rehabilitation following long-term medical issues, surgery, or injuries.
Plus, the symptoms and particular medical issues determine the best type of physical therapy treatment. The therapy also considers other factors, such as how long the patient has experienced the pain or discomfort. Personal preferences and the patient's general physical health are also necessary here.
How safe is physical therapy?
Experts from WebMD ensure that physical therapy is safe and does not hurt. However, it can be challenging since it requires moving the body parts with chronic pain or injury. For instance, you can experience soreness following deep tissue massage or stretching.
Sometimes, hard training is necessary to become stronger. You can feel the pressure during therapy, but it should not be too much. Also, treatment may have distinct effects on various individuals. Your habits, daily activities, alignment, and body type also play a part here.
Reasons to see a physical therapist near you
You may visit a physical therapist if you want help with the following:
- Improve mobility, balance, and strength: PTs can teach you about cause and effect in the human body. You can enhance your form when exercising and adapt how you move in daily activities with the help of physical therapy. Physical treatment and taking care of your body mechanics should be proactive pursuits. A skilled physical therapist will collaborate to pinpoint the root of your body's response and determine how to tackle and resolve it.
- Avoid surgery: Even though surgery is occasionally necessary, pre-surgical physical therapy, or "pre-hab," can speed up recovery and improve outcomes. Some patients choose not to undergo surgery as they experience much improvement in motion and a decrease in pain after attending PT.
- Prevent injury: You should view physical therapy as preventative care. Improving your posture or gaining an edge in sports competitions is also great. A qualified physical therapist will discover how active you are and instruct you on preventing injuries, including moving more mindfully.
- Manage aging: Maintaining healthy body weight as we age becomes difficult since we risk losing muscle mass and strength. Older people must learn to adapt and modify their daily routines (like getting up from a chair or walking up and down steps). Physical therapy can help you walk more confidently as you get older.
- Help control diseases or conditions: Some physical therapists are qualified to assist patients with heart, lung, or weight-related issues. People with type 2 diabetes, for instance, can benefit from physical therapy because it helps people lose weight through movement. It may result in fewer medication needs and lower heart disease and stroke risk.
Locating qualified physical therapists near you
Regarding physical therapy, every individual has unique demands and goals. Moreover, a qualified, knowledgeable, compassionate physical therapist is only possible if you're limited to in-network providers.
However, Zocdoc makes it simple to help you locate the best physical therapists in Arizona in just a few clicks. Enter your symptoms, insurance carrier, or location in the search bar. You will have a list of physical therapists matching your preferences. Each healthcare provider on Zocdoc has a detailed profile with information about their training, accolades, board certifications, and more. You can learn more about what languages they speak and whether they provide a specific form of therapy.
Furthermore, you can rely on verified customer reviews and ratings to make an informed decision. Book a virtual or an in-person appointment with your preferred physical therapist. Some of them may be available on weekends or after usual working hours.
All bookings made through Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Statistics related to physical therapy in Arizona
The Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy presented a report on the physical therapist workforce in the state. This report aimed to summarize the occupational and demographic characteristics of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in Arizona.
According to the report, Arizona had 1.5 PTAs and 3.9 PTs per 10,000 people. Moreover, most PTs were around 44 years old, and PTAs 41 years old. Meanwhile, 63% of the PTs and PTAs providing direct patient care were between 25 and 44 years old.
Arthritis is one of the majorly prevalent conditions among US citizens. Physical therapy is a promising option to treat arthritis—especially for people who do not want to depend on medications heavily. America's Health Rankings shared some recent statistics on arthritis in Arizona for 2021. Around 24.2% of adults were diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The majority of the patients were females. Figures for the same remained at 27.5%, while males were around 20.7%.
Furthermore, arthritis majorly causes pain and workplace disability. About 1 in 4 adults having arthritis experience joint pain. Healthline mentions physical therapy as a promising treatment for the disease.
Sources
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Healthline
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy
United Health Foundation
