The History Of Pediatric Physical Therapy

My shadowing experience this summer has taught me so many new things about physical therapy. It has allowed me to observe the practice and make sense of the new information I have learned. Although therapy has not changed, the lenses through which I view it have. I no longer see a patient performing arbitrary exercises, I see muscles moving in specific patterns. I no longer see a passive stretch being performed, I see soft tissues, ligaments, and capsules being mobilized. I no longer see a diagnosis that receives that same treatment, I see a person that is struggling with an issue and passionate people willing to help through genuine care. I Had my first observation at The Medical Arts Research Center(MARC), an outpatient physical therapy facility in San Antonio. There, I observed 9 patients with musculoskeletal conditions. These included 8 adults and 1 pediatric. The second clinic was Peak Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Wylie, Texas. There I saw 8 patients with musculoskeletal conditions including 6 adults and 2 pediatric. During these observations, I saw many components of physical therapy practice. The last place I shadowed was Warm Springs Rehab Hospital of San Antonio. I observed in the post-acute medical facility in which we saw 7 patients with neuromuscular conditions, including 5 adults and 2 pediatric.

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

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.

I stated to formulate my research questions when I surfed the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). I read some of documents that

A Pediatric Physical Therapist is like a coach to his/her patient to do their best and push past their obstacles. A Pediatric Physical Therapist wants to get children to achieve their maximum potential in anything they do not matter how big or small it is. They ae required to create an age appropriate text for each child based on their needs. They can be used even to help an infant earn how to craw, roll over or even sit up. One main time a Pediatric Physical Therapist is used is after an injury or surgery.

I have previously worked with physical therapists while I was a behavioral therapist at an autism clinic. Some of my patients required a multi-dimensional approach with many specialties including PT, OT, and SLP. Prior to this experience I assumed physical therapists had a very limited role in the health care setting. I thought their only focus was on the elderly and post-surgical patients, but then I realized it is a much broader specialty. Physical therapists can also specialize in neurological disorders, special needs children, and many other aspects of the patient’s overall health.

Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists assist with selecting, fitting, adapting and training children and families in the use of orthotics (splints), prosthetics (artificial limbs) and special equipment (walkers, crutches, wheelchairs) to compensate for difficulties with movement. PTs and OTs also modify exercises and activities for home, school and community enabling each child to participate more fully in life’s experiences.

The scope of practice in the physical therapy profession is always changing and growing with new evidence, education, and social needs. The scope of practice is made up of three parts, professional, jurisdictional, and personal. The professional scope of practice is found upon the understanding, educational training, and evidence emerging from the therapy practice. The jurisdictional scope of practice is based on the particular state’s licensure procedures and policy. The personal scope of practice consists of the activities the therapist is familiar with and where they were trained to perform these activities expertly. (The Physical Therapist Scope of Practice.

Physical therapists provide the service of the helping of restoring muscular or nerve damage upon a living organism. They improve the functions of mobility, help relieve pain, and prevent permanent physical damage of patients with injuries or disease. Fitness and health are key to helping patients get through physical therapy. Patient problems vary from physical disabilities such as car accidents to nerve damage like arthritis. Physical therapists, or also known as PT’s, start off by viewing the patients medical history, then they test the patients strength, range of motion, posture, balance and coordination, respiration, muscle performance,

The Physical Therapy profession has been around for many years. “The American physical therapy profession emerged during and following the First World War as a result of the need for trained providers of therapeutic exercise – who practiced under the supervision of a physician – for the rehabilitation of injured soldiers.” (Wrynn, 2014) The profession over the past few years has had a huge expansion in need. “Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients with injuries or disease. (Physical Therapist, 2012) Physical Therapist work with the patient to make sure

At-home occupational therapy for children is quickly expanding. For this reason, it is critical for individuals to understand the importance of this form of treatment. Often, scholarly articles use jargon the layperson would not understand. For this reason, the details presented in the article, “Pediatric Occupational Therapy in the Home”, has been revised. These revisions help better explain the benefits and issues regarding at home occupational therapy sessions. Please read the document thoroughly to understand the reasoning behind the edits made to this article. This document was written to display all changes made to the design, organization, and content to make the article more comprehensive. Having a comprehension of the revision will

School-based physical therapists (PTs) are involved in various aspects of students’ daily activities, enabling them to participate in and have access to educational activities and facilities. Consequently, safe physical management, lifting, and transfers are key areas of PTs’ participation, support, and instruction for educational teams and students. While knowledge of safe handling strategies and good body mechanics are important for school-based PTs there is no specific resource for children in the educational

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).

Physical Therapy is the one of the most important thing a person may need when recovering from an injury or disease. P.T.’s are highly educated professionals that teach their applicants how to recover and build their strength up the right way such as exercise, manual therapy, hydrotherapy, electrical therapy and ultrasound therapy. Physical Therapy has been a top chosen profession since World War 1 when Physical therapists were originally called Reconstruction Aids. Physical Therapy first started off as a predominately female career, but as the years progressed more and more males started to enter this chosen profession. During WW1 there were many cases of musculoskeletal injuries that involved soldiers whom were treated by Physical