Physical Therapy For Chronic Pain

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

Life can change in a split second when an unanticipated injury or disease hinders someone’s normal daily life. Modern medicine, physicians and families can only do so much but physical therapy can help recoup the life many of us take for granted. It often isn’t until we lose something that we as humans realize what we had such as the value of our body’s ability to take us through each day. A physical therapist is the person who stays with a patient for the duration of the rehabilitation process. A physical therapist leads the patient through the process of regaining physical strength and helps the patient regain control of their future. Much like many careers that involve interaction with individuals, physical therapy reaches beyond

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

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

Without the repetitive boredom of traditional therapy patients can look forward to seeing their physical therapist and focus less on their injuries.

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.

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).

Physical therapy can be a marvel for those who are chronically ill or injured giving them the ability to live an active and healthy lifestyle after proceeding with treatment. A close relative of mine experiences this at CBI Health Center in Kelowna, BC and is pursuing at improving his health post treatment. With the assist of his physiotherapists he modifies his health daily by eating better and being active, is currently losing weight, has had a decrease in pain, increase in mobility, and returned to work after being on medical leave for years die to chronic pain as a result of degenerative disk disorder. Through CBI Health’s approach at treatments, administering knowledge, and the motivation of the physiotherapists, Dave has been able to make a noticeable improvement on his health and began living a more active life.

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 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.

Physical Therapists provide rehabilitation for injuries and help maintain stability. “Some history of Physical Therapist formed their first professional association in 1921 called the American Women’s physical therapeutic association. In the late 1940s, the association had changed its name to the American Physical Therapy Association. Physical Therapy was developed when the association’s membership swelled to 8,000 and the number of physical therapy education programs across the US increased from 16 to 39”(“APTA History”). Although many people may think being a physical therapist is hard because of the qualifications needed, the daily work, salary, and needs of the service have drawn my attention to the field.

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

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.

Physical therapy evolved from “two major historical events: the poliomyelitis epidemics within the United States in the 1890s and the effects of World War I upon US citizens, creating a need for rehabilitation (Moffat, M.).” Physical therapists are health care professionals who treat individuals of all ages with medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical therapists go through rigorous training, work in a variety of settings, and follow an important vision. With all the important work physical therapists do for patients it is not surprising that the demand for physical therapists continues climb. Even for the country's younger sect,

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).