In part two of this PT Month series I will shed light on just who a physical therapist is and what ones does/who they help.
A physical therapist has doctorate level training in conservatively managing neuromusculoskeletal issues. This means no medication, injections or surgery. Physical Therapists have 2-3 years training. Some also undergo post-graduate training via a residency and/or fellowship training. This is the same as medical doctors complete, just tailored to what physical therapists treat. At the present time only 1-2% of PTs complete fellowship training. This is the highest level of clinical training in the profession.
Physical Therapists evaluate and treat individuals with neurological, muscular, or skeletal issues who have difficulty with strength, motion, or mobility/function. They treat this population with physical or manual medicine techniques to restore optimal function for daily life. AND…this can be done by seeing a PT 1st (but more on this next week).
You will find physical therapists working across an array of settings. PTs work in hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, schools, and with sports teams. Physical Therapists are skilled in treating the human body from just a few days or weeks old until death.
Some might think physical therapy is just for athletes or after someone has a surgery. But
in reality that is not the case. Writing out a comprehensive list of all the issues PTs treat would fill pages. For a long list but by no means everything, check out this Link. As you can see, PTs treat pretty much any muscle or joint issue from head to toe and everything in between.
Not sure if PT is for you??? Been dealing with something that is slowing you down? Avoiding or fearful of some activity because it may or you think it may hurt? Struggling with pain that is keeping you from enjoying
life? These are all reasons to call a physical therapist. What do you really have to lose? More days living with pain or the inability to enjoy life…
More questions? See if some of them can be answered HERE.