Physical Therapy For Chronic Pain

I became highly aware of the need for physical therapists in the workforce at an early age. I was nine years old when I had my first experience with this issue that physical therapy still faces today. In my hometown there was one clinic in the area where I could go to seek care for an elbow injury I suffered, which resulted in an overpopulated and inefficient physical therapy setting. My time there consisted of a mixture of feelings on how the profession could utilize better resources to serve society. As I think about this now, it solidifies my vision for the profession of physical therapy to improve patient access and quality of care. We are coming to a point in time where the number of patients seeking care can potentially outnumber what can be provided for appropriately and efficiently.

Do you know the all mighty king Odysseus, the King of Ithaca? In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer Odysseus sailed out to war leaving his wife and son for 10 years. On his journey back home he had been lost at sea because of all the other gods and as time went by it had been another additional 10 years. So after 20 years he finally made it back home to see intruders in his home trying to take over his empire/kingdom and he had to make a plan to kill them. But he couldn't reveal himself at this time so he had to disguise himself until it was to time for him to reveal himself.

In the article Acropolis written by Norbert Brockman, it say that the acropolis was a hill where all the temples were and where important building that were for the city of Athena were located. Then the temple were destroyed when the Persian invaded Athena. It took a lot of money, that came from the people of other city-states, to rebuild theses monuments and temples. The Acropolis is located on a plateau.There is a statue of Athena at the top. To the Athenian Athena was their protector.

First of all, according to introduction to physical therapy, “Physical therapy is a health profession whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal health and function.” Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation that physical therapists use to help patients recover from an injury or a physical disability. Many people think that the process of the Physical Therapy is the same in everywhere where a Physical Therapist performed his job. However, that’s not true because a physical therapy depends of many characteristics such as, the disability or the type of the injury of the patient. In fact, to know more about the topic I visited two facilities, which are an outpatient clinic and a hospital to compare and contrast how the PT performed the Physical therapy in each facility.

A. Physical therapy is meant “to relieve musculoskeletal pain, reduce inflammation, and restore oral motor function” (McNeely, Olivo, & Magee, 2006).

As a PTA I have been given a breath of knowledge in regard to the profession of physical therapy. However, I am not satisfied with this breath of knowledge. I yearn for the opportunity to gain a further understanding in terms of “how and why” physical therapy is successful at restoring function to individuals seeking

In the words of Field (2007), "physical therapists develop therapies and exercise modalities to help patients ease pain, recover from injuries or illness, or regain use of body parts." The relevance of physical therapy as a health care profession cannot hence be overstated. This is more so the case given that due to injuries, accidents, old age or disabilities; individuals could at some point need intervention designed to alleviate pain, improve mobility or even restore function.

Physical therapy takes a more direct pathway towards a more specific problem with the human body. Physical therapy is a rehabilitation that works towards a goal of helping patients maintain, improve, or recover their physical abilities, most often times after an accident causing traumatic injury or arthritis (Mayo School of Health Sciences). Patients of a physical therapist often come in solely for the purpose of regaining their movement, not the health aspect involved behind it. Most patients of this therapist have suffered sports injuries, traumatic accidents, over even simply a problem of weakening with age such as those who suffer arthritis or other weakening of the joints and muscles. With step by step sessions focusing purely on strengthening the muscles and joints required to perform the movement functions, the patients rebuild their way from movement with pain, to no pain or suffering involved in everyday activities. When a patient begins therapy, they more or less begin with baby steps such as stretches and hydrotherapy to allow the body to relearn the movements without pain (What is Physical Therapy?). As the patient increases in strength

Physical therapy has come a long way in the last couple of decades, literally transforming the way pain, functional limitations and recovery from surgery is treated. But just as with any other healthcare provider, it’s the people behind the front door - and their treatment philosophy - which makes the critical difference in the patient experience.

Long term condition (LTC) is a health problem that cannot be cured, at present, but can be managed by medication or therapies’ (Snodden., 2010: p1). There are more than 15 million people in England that are suffering from long term conditions (Department of Health., 2013). Long-term conditions are more common in older people. The percentages of people of over 60 having a LTC is 58 per cent compared to under that is 14 per cent (Department of Health, 2012). LTC is also more predominant in more deprived groups, such as the poorest social class as it has 60 per cent higher prevalence than of those in the richest social class. (Department of Health, 2012).

Imagine that you have torn your ACL, or your anterior crucial element ligament. An athletic trainer will help you until a doctor can be seen for X-rays. A surgeon will repair the injury. An anesthesiologist will keep you pain free throughout a procedure. After this, somebody is needed to assist in improving movement. That is what a physical therapist is for. Physical therapists, or PTs, are a crucial part of rehabilitation, treatment and prevention for patients with physical ailments. Individualized programs are developed by PTs that may follow a doctor’s referral, as well as a patient’s concerns and physical evaluation. Treatment plans can be made for individuals with sprained ankles to arthritis to neurological disorders. Physical therapy varies from patient to patient, as no two injuries are exactly the same, but the goal is always the same: a completely recovered patient.

Physical therapy prevents and treats medical conditions and injuries through the means of exercises and treatments. Therapists must first evaluate the “strength, coordination and balance, posture, motor function, muscle performance, and respiration” of the patient (The Gale, n.pg). Then they determine a specific treatment program for the patient, each patient has a particular need that has to be addressed. Physical therapists can treat various conditions, disorders, and injuries. “The purpose of physical therapy is to restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities, with the goal of improving a patient’s functioning at school or work and in daily life” (The Gale, n.pg). Therapists treat patients ranging from young children to the elderly. Physical therapist are usual for helping children with “birth defects (such as spina bifida), genetic disorders, prenatal drug and

Nobody is the same, therefore treatment isn’t always the same. Two people could come in after having a knee replacement, but can both be healing differently. I get the advantage of seeing conditions like this every day at the clinic I work at. Therapists will create an outline relative to each patient according to the diagnosis and what the patient says. There are many different exercises and different machines used to decrease pain and improve strength and the way a patient feels overall. I love seeing new exercises or machines being used. Technology constantly changes and that helps tremendously in the medical field. Different people will need therapy in different ways as time goes on. So many different things happen to everyone as they grow

Physical therapy is the process in which treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and by exercise not by drugs. A Physical Therapist goes thru the struggle of treating these diseases, injuries, and deformities. Allowing someone to get back to their right mentally and physical health. But all in all, who are Physical Therapist, how much do Physical Therapists earn, what are the education requirements, what are the outlook of being a Physical Therapist, and how can you become a Physical Therapist.

Physical therapy has grown increasing more useful as the years’ progress and more is learned about the human body and its movements, interactions, and mechanisms. Someone may go to physical therapy for injury, recovery, in order to maintain function, or even due to a stroke and is trying to work on walking again. Patients of a physical therapist can include, but is not limited to, elderly, children, accident victims, athletes, those with conditions such as arthritis or fractures, etc. The possibilities are endless for potential physical therapy patients (Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences).