Physical Therapy
Definition of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is the treatment of deformity, injury, or disease by healthcare professionals, physical therapists, through hands-on methods such as massage, exercise, or heat treatment so that drugs or surgery may not be needed. In physical therapy sessions therapists work with patients to help them improve their movement so that they are able to manage their pain. Physical therapy is an active profession with a scientific base that helps patients to restore and to maintain optimal physical function. Physical therapists take an active role in the rehabilitation process, in prevention and health maintenance programs, and in fitness and wellness programs (PT Careers, 2015). Their services
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Patient examination in physical therapy includes measures such as strength, flexibility, range of motion, motor function, and quality of life. After all of this has been done, a physical therapist uses clinical reasoning to determine what is wrong with the patient and what should be done to help the patient improve. He uses the gathered information to develop an individualized care plan for each patient, indicating the patient’s short- and long-term goals and expected outcomes as a result of the therapy sessions (U.S. Bureau, 2015).
Once the plan has been established, the therapist works with his patient using stretches, exercises, and hands-on therapy to help alleviate pain, increase mobility, and prevent further injury. The therapist evaluates and tracks the patient’s progress and modifies the plan by trying new treatments when needed. A physical therapist must be able to communicate well with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals and must be able to show integrity and compassion for his patients. Another important aspect of a physical therapist’s job is to teach his patients appropriate ways to perform certain tasks so that further injury does not occur, promoting future health and wellness (U.S. Bureau, 2015).
Facilities and Working Conditions
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physical therapists held about 210,900 jobs in 2014, and offices of physical and occupational therapists employed 34% of those physical therapists. Physical
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
The physical therapy profession is concerned with treating individuals of all ages. In the future, I plan on being able to comfort individuals undergoing physical therapy by being able to use my compassionate nature, caring, understanding, and the expertise that I will gain, while serving as their physical therapist. In doing the previously mentioned things, I hope to be considered as an important asset to society. I believe that people will be able to increase their viability by seeking my assistance.
Physical Therapist Assistant is a fascinating career to be in because you will get to handle patients who are recovering from an injury or any health condition patients have. In the field, you work with a team that provide Therapy services and work under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. Assistant’s writes down patient’s status and takes notes after every checkup to see growth. They work with patients from newborns to the elderly. The Assistant educates patients on how to properly stretch and what to do after treatment. Also, they help assist patients in movements and show how to use equipment’s. The main goal for a Physical Therapist Assistant is to reduce pain, prevent another injury, gain flexibility and be
Physical Therapy is an active, helpful career. It focuses on rehabilitation to reestablish full function and mobility to the patient. Anyone and everyone can qualify for physical therapy. Patients differ in age and race, and of course, by their illness or injury. The job involves possessing and using knowledge to diagnose the patient and establish a management plan deciding what therapy will benefit and improve the patient’s condition and averaging how long it will take to accomplish.
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.
The standard scope of practice of a Doctor of Physical Therapy consists of providing exercises and services that “prevent, minimize, or eliminate impairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions” as well as creating goals that will guide my patient to better mobility (The Physical Therapy, 2015). Physical therapy is a dynamic form of health care that focuses on rehabilitation, risk-prevention exercises, and performance
A day in the life of a physical therapist would consist of showing the patient stretches or exercises to treat the injury. Physical therapist also make plans specified for the patient to follow at the office and at home to recover quickly and properly. Also during the process they observe and evaluate the patients progress to help them know what else they may have to do to recover (“Summary”).
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 therapists are members of a health care team, specially trained to improve movement and flinction, relieve pain, and expand movement potential. Through evaluation and individualized treatment programs, physical therapists can both treat existing problems and provide preventive health care for people with a variety of needs (Physical Therapy-Improving 1). Physical therapists are very knowledgeable and skillful concerning the human body. Physical therapy is a complex, but rewarding field to pursue as a career. Specialization, working conditions, job outlook, salaries, and education requirements need to be taken into consideration when contemplating a career as a physical therapist.
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.
As Plato said: Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. A physical therapist utmost goal is to mobilize the human body to a functioning working condition in which the patient can move without pain and productively. As a future physical therapist, I will achieve this goal by, implementing an appropriate plan of care and intervention, placing confidence and faith in my future patient, resulting in a trusting relationship between patient and therapist, thus heightening the value of physical therapy to society.
Its another day just like any other. You’re on your way to work, school or to hang out with family and friends then the unexpected hits you. Or maybe you hit that vehicle in your blind spot. Sometimes an injury can be way more serious when the impact is great enough. It could take up to years to fully recover from a neck or spinal injury but there is always hope. Physical therapy is this hope for those who might have thought they’d never get their bodies to perform and function how it did before. From a fractured wrist, to a stroke patient, consistently working with a physical therapist can guarantee ones improvement with something that might have seemed impossible on their own. Treatment plans are designed for each person’s individual goals, challenges, and needs. Although sometimes a slow, grueling process of healing, the results are more than worth it. Personally seeing this process in action at the CORA rehabilitation center I volunteer at is what drew me to this profession. The positive, encouraging energy from Physical therapists and PTA's in addition to the unwavering effort from patients to achieve goals is inspiring. There are many ways physical therapy can improve one’s lifestyle. Not only can physical therapy help those involved in accidents that needed surgery, it can help people afflicted with heart or lung disease, even age related issues that may seem incurable such as joint failure and arthritis.
Physical Therapist Core Virtues A soldier that looses a limb in battle, an athlete who breaks an bone or tears a muscle during practice or a game, a child born with a deformity that causes trouble for one’s body, and a police officer that has been shot and injured in the line of duty, are all that have one thing in common. Each of these different situations and many others activities require a Doctor of Physical Therapy in order recover. Physical Therapists help the elderly, adults, teens, and children to recover from their previous injury problems. People should follow the consequentialist view in any career field that they decide to pursue. Physical therapist need to have certain habits to succeed in the medical field. If they do not have these certain habits they will not be as successful as the one’s that do have these habits. Therefore, there are certain traits I believe a physical therapist needs to have, which is the ability to give encouragement, to be very knowledgeable, and have patience, and be personable in order to be successful in the job field.
Physical therapists are rehabilitation specialists that help to bring the body back to full or near full range of mobility. Physical therapists help to strengthen weak muscles, tendons, and ligaments that result from an injury, misuse, or old age. On a typical day a physical therapist will examine a patient and come up with a rehabilitation plan that consists of a series of simple exercises that can be done in the office and at home, a list of equipment the patient can utilize such as tension bands and muscle tapes, and a list of aftercare instructions such as massages or ice packing and heat packing. Also, they may have to teach physical therapy students in a clinical setting, as well as participating in follow up education courses of their
Physical therapy is the scientific physical procedures used in the treatment of patients with a disability, disease, or injury to achieve and maintain function and to prevent malfunction or deformity. One of the most important tasks that physical therapists perform is the various forms of therapeutic exercise that are used to increase strength and endurance to improve coordination and functional movement for activities of daily living and to increase and maintain range of motion (APTA History).