What is physical therapy?

A personal trainer... a massage therapist... an ancillary service.  

All common misconceptions and all wrong.

We are the movement specialists.  We improve motion, decrease pain, avoid surgery, and return patients to function.

And in the state of Florida you can see a physical therapist directly without a physician referral for 21 days.  Not in Florida? Find a PT near you and ask about seeing a therapist directly, if possible.

Our Education

Physical therapy programs are now training students at the doctorate level.  In 2.5 to 3 years, students undergo intense training in anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, pharmacology, orthopedics, neuroscience, therapeutic exercise, and the list continues.  Basically, this means we are highly skilled in the ability to examine a patient, determine any differential diagnosis (aka need to refer to a physician), create a specialized program for each patient to stretch and strengthen muscles, improve range of motion (along with a list of other treatment methods including manual therapy, the use of modalities, etc) and return them to normal function.  We are trained to treat common orthopedic conditions as well as neurological conditions such as strokes, Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury.  Check out the APTA's website to see more on this.

Avoid Surgery

Another big benefit to physical therapy is its use to decrease the need for surgery.  The Center for Disease Control published a study of in-patient surgeries in 2010 - 51.4 million surgeries were performed.  Of those surgeries, 4.8 million were related to cardiac health.  Physical therapy can be implemented to exercise patient's with heart disease in a controlled environment.

Side note: Remaining active is key to help prevent heart disease.  The American Heart Association recommends the following activity:

• At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150
  
  OR

• At least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75; or a combination of the two
  
  AND

• Moderate to high intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 or more days per week for additional health benefits.

As a professor of mine put it (and any USA student or alumni knows what is coming...) Motion is lotion! If you don't use it, you lose it! So stay active :)

Physical Therapy Vs. Surgery

The National Institute of Health reported a study from the New England Journal of Medicine (check out their twitter for the latest research) earlier this year that found physical therapy to deliver results comparable to that of surgery in regards to a torn meniscus of the knee.  More examples of the benefits of PT over surgery can be found here.

Restore Motion

However, surgery is not always avoidable.  719,000 of the aforementioned surgeries were total knee replacements and 332,000 were total hip replacements.  Physical therapy also plays a large role in restoring proper range of motion and strength in these patients.  Without therapy patients are often left with a lack of range which can lead to an abnormal walking pattern and impaired quality of life.

Decrease Pain

Physical therapy can also help alleviate pain.  The APTA reports nearly 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pain - but this is not necessary!!  Physical therapists are trained in spinal mobilizations and soft tissue techniques that can help relieve pain and restore motion, as well as train muscles and teach proper posture to minimize recurrence.  We take multiple courses for these treatments and can even become certified in Manual Therapy.

Get more information about physical therapists here.  Check out the "Did You Know?" page for more research demonstrating the usefulness of physical therapy.

To sum this up: we are the movement specialists, we learn about every aspect of the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones), we take a whole body approach and examine any area that may be causing the issue (think problem at the elbow - we will look at the shouder/neck and wrist/hand as well!).  We are one of the best kept secrets in healthcare and it is our job to make our profession known!

Quick Personal Experience: I was talking with a nurse about Physical Therapy - she was seen by one for some neck pain.  Fast forward four months, she was in a car accident and told by insurance she could go to a Chiropractor... but being able to go to a PT was not mentioned.  She told me she ran into her PT at Publix who asked about her neck.  During the conversation she found out she could have returned to the PT after the accident and it would be covered by insurance.  She told me she had no idea and wishes she would have known!  She will now being going to her PT for any musculoskeletal needs.  It's experiences like this that we need to learn from and avoid.  We need to educate the public!

Something strike your interest?  Ask a question.  Leave a story or personal experience with physical therapy.  Share this post and help spread the word about physical therapy.

And trust me - Physical therapy spans way more than what I have covered!  This is just the beginning!  We can treat patients who have cancer (think lymphedema post breast cancer for example), urinary incontinence, post surgery rehabilitation, gait and running analysis, orthopedic injuries, sports injuries, low back pain... the list goes on!

Joy