What Is Physical Therapy (physiotherapy)? What Does A Physical Therapist (physio

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What Is Physical Therapy (physiotherapy)? What Does A Physical Therapist

(physiotherapist) Do?

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Physical therapy or physiotherapy (UK/Ireland/Australia) is a branch of

rehabilitative medicine aimed at helping patients maintain, recover or improve

their physical abilities.

Physical therapists or physiotherapists (UK/Ireland/Australia) work with

patients whose movements may be undermined by aging, disease, environmental

factors, or sporting hazards.

Physical therapy also means the treatment of any pain, disease, or injury by

physical means.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, physical therapy is:

1. The treatment of pain, disease, or injury by physical means.

2. The profession concerned with promotion of health, with prevention of

physical disabilities, with evaluation and rehabilitation of persons disabled by

pain, disease, or injury, and with treatment by physical therapeutic measures as

opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures.

A physical therapist seeks to identify and maximize quality of life and movement

potential through prevention, intervention (treatment), promotion, habilitation,

and rehabilitation.

Habilitation means making somebody fit or capable of doing something.

Rehabilitation means making somebody fit or capable of doing something they can

no longer do properly or at all, but used to be able to - i.e. restoring an

ability or abilities.

Promotion means the process of enabling people to increase control over and

improve their health.

Physical therapy is a clinical health science

Physical therapy is not alternative therapy. It is a clinical health science.

Physical therapists study medical science subjects, including anatomy,

neuroscience and physiology in order to acquire the health education needed for

prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., of patients with

physical problems.

The physical therapist works in hospitals, GP (general practice, primary care

medicine) practices, and the community. In the vast majority of countries a

physical therapist must be fully qualified and registered by law. In order to

become registered the physical therapist must have graduated with a university

degree in physical therapy or a health science university degree that included a

physical therapy course.

A qualified physical therapist is an expert in the examination and treatment of

people with cardiothoracic, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular diseases; focusing

on conditions and problems that undermine patients' abilities to move and

function effectively.

Physical therapy is based on science

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK:

" Physiotherapy is science-based, committed to extending, applying, evaluating

and reviewing the evidence that underpins and informs its practice and delivery.

The exercise of clinical judgment and informed interpretation is at its core. "

What does a physical therapist do?

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK, physical therapists use

their training and skills to treat a wide range of physical problems linked to

different systems in the body, including:

Neuromuscular systems - concerned with both nerves and muscles. Nerves include

the brain, spine and nerves throughout the body. Neuromuscular refers to

neuromuscular junction - where nerves and muscle fibers meet, and also includes

neuromuscular transmission - the transfer of information, impulses, from the

nerve to the muscle.

Musculoskeletal systems - an organ system that gives us the ability to move

using our muscles and bones (muscular and skeletal systems). The musculoskeletal

system gives us form, movement and stability. The musculoskeletal system

includes our bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other

connective tissue.

Cardiovascular systems - include the heart and the circulatory systems. The

circulatory system carries nutrients and oxygen via blood vessels to the tissues

of the body and removes waste and carbon dioxide from them.

Respiratory systems - include organs that are involved in breathing, such as the

lungs, bronchi, trachea, larynx, throat, and nose.

In many countries doctors increasingly refer their patients to physical

therapists, which is resulting in more and more patients going straight to the

physical therapist without having first seen a doctor.

The physical therapist works autonomously, usually as part of a team with other

health care and social care professionals.

Physical therapy is much more than just dealing with sports-related injuries

Below are some examples of diseases and conditions physical therapists treat,

often as a result of a doctor's referral:

Asthma - the physical therapist will interview the patient with asthma, listen

to the chest with a stethoscope, monitor how the patient breathes and how the

chest moves, possibly test the patient's breathing while exercising, and liaise

with other healthcare professionals who treat the patient. The physical

therapist will help the patient learn how to breathe in a more relaxed way, this

may include breathing exercises, advice on physical activity, strategies to

overcome and manage wheezing and other symptoms linked to asthma - all of which

significantly contribute towards the patient's recovery.

Back pain - the physical therapist will examine the patient's back, determine

how it is affecting his/her life, and check some other aspects of the patient's

health. The physical therapist may perform manual therapy, help the patient

learn how to manage the pain, what to do to speed up recovery and prevent

recurrence. The therapist will draw up a program which probably includes

exercise, tailored specifically to the patient's health, ability and fitness

level.

Cerebral palsy - the physical therapist, along with other healthcare

professionals, is involved in helping the child or adult achieve his/her

potential for physical independence and fitness. The therapist also liaises

closely with the patients' caregivers or parents. If the patient is a child, the

physical therapist helps him/her and the parents/caregivers on how best to

acquire skills which improve independence.

Incontinence - physical therapy is vital for the rapid recovery of urinary

continence of women after childbirth and men after certain surgical procedures

on the prostate gland. Depending on the patient's needs and physical health,

this may involve pelvic floor exercises, advice on what to eat and drink,

electrical stimulation or biofeedback. Studies have shown that recovery of

urinary function after a radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the

prostate) is likely to be much faster and better if the man sees a physical

therapist.

Physical therapy is also very much an integral part of treatment for neck pain,

whiplash, stroke, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis.

Five most common specialty areas of physical therapy

Orthopedic physical therapy

The orthopedic physical therapist treats injuries and disorders of the

musculoskeletal system; this also includes rehabilitation for post-orthopedic

surgery patients. The therapist is a specialist in the treatment of:

Post operative joints

Sports injuries

Arthritis

Disease or injuries affecting muscles, bones, ligaments or tendons

Amputations

Geriatric physical therapy

The focus here is on the older adult. The geriatric physical therapist is a

specialist in the treatment of the following:

Arthritis

Osteoporosis

Cancer

Alzheimer's disease

Hip replacement

Joint replacement

Balance problems

Incontinence

The main goal is to get the patient mobile again, pain management, and

optimizing fitness levels, among others.

Neurological physical therapy

The neurological physical therapist is specialized in treating patients with a

neurological disorder or disease. This may include patients with:

Alzheimer's disease

Cerebral palsy

Multiple sclerosis

Paralysis

Parkinson's disease

Poor balance

Spinal cord injury

Stroke

Vision impairment

Walking difficulties

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation physical therapy

The specialist works with patients who have a disease or disorder of the heart,

circulatory system, or pulmonary system. The focus here is to improve the

patient's endurance and physical independence. Patients with pulmonary problems,

such as cystic fibrosis, may need manual therapy to get fluid build-up out of

the lungs. The specialist commonly works with:

Patients recovering from a heart attack

Those recovering from bypass surgery

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Pediatric physical therapy

The pediatric physical therapist treats children with various diseases and

disorders. The physical therapist is also trained to diagnose health problems

early on. Examples of patients may include children with:

Spina bifida

Cerebral palsy

Torticollis

A brief breakdown of what a physical therapist does:

A physical therapist provides services that help..

restore function

improve mobility

relieve pain

prevent permanent disabilities

limit permanent disabilities

...of patients who have an injury or disease.

The physical therapist..

restores..

maintains..

promotes..

...general fitness and health.

The physical therapist..

examines the patient's medical history

tests and measures the patient's..

strength

range of motion

balance

coordination

posture

muscle performance

respiration

motor function

...and then develops the patient's plan describing a treatment strategy and its

targeted outcome.

The patient's treatment typically includes..

exercise, which may focus on..

endurance

strength

flexibility

The physical therapist will encourage the patient to..

use his/her muscles to increase..

flexibility

range of motion

Some patients will be taught more advanced exercises aimed at improving..

balance

strength

coordination

endurance

...so that they are better able to go about their daily activities at home and at

work.

To reduce swelling, physical therapists use..

ultrasound

hot packs

cold compresses

electrical stimulation

To reduce pain, and improve flexibility and circulation, physical therapists may

use..

traction

deep-tissue massage

To help with mobility and dexterity, physical therapists teach patients how to

use..

prostheses

crutches

wheelchairs

other adaptive devices

...and how to exercise to speed up recovery.

The physical therapist keeps notes on the patient's progress, carries out

periodic examinations, and adapts treatment along the way as required.

The physical therapist liaises with doctors, nurses, dentists, teachers, social

workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists,

and parents or caregivers.